DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang has opined that it would be more credible for embattled MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki to be cleared from his conflict-of-interest allegations by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department instead of one of MACC's committees.
The veteran politician also questioned why Azam did not say he was prepared to appear before the PSC to clear himself of the allegations.
This came after Azam finally attended a press conference today to address the claims, more than two months after his shareholdings were first reported.
"(MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson) Abu Zahar Ujang said the board was satisfied with Azam's explanation that he had neither pecuniary interest nor conflict of interest in the acquisition of those shares.
"The pertinent question is - why is Azam not prepared to say that he is prepared to appear before the PSC for Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department, to clear himself of the conflict-of-interest allegations first made against him more than two months ago?
"Furthermore, is his brother prepared to appear before the PSC?" Lim asked in a statement today.
Azam recently came under intense scrutiny after allegations surfaced about him owning shares in two companies back in 2015.
According to Excel Force Bhd's 2015 annual report, Azam owned 2,156,000 warrants in the company as of March 21, 2016. At the time, Azam was the head of MACC's investigation division.
'Problems inculcating value of integrity'
In the press conference today, Azam said he told the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board that his trading account was used by his brother to acquire the shares in the two companies in 2015.
The shares have since been transferred to his brother, Nasir.
Abu Zahar, who was also present at the press conference, said they were satisfied with Azam's explanation that he had neither pecuniary interest nor conflict of interest in the acquisition of those shares.
Lim expressed his disappointment over the MACC's "tell-all" press conference, saying it had left many questions unanswered.
He pointed out that a senior MACC enforcement officer was charged in court yesterday for the misappropriation of RM25 million of cash evidence linked to a major corruption case.
While it is up to the court to decide whether the MACC officer is guilty of this offence, Lim said it does not bode well that the MACC is having problems inculcating the value of integrity among its officers.
"How does the MACC expect to be successful in inculcating the value of integrity among the Malaysian population?
"Shouldn't the subject of integrity and anti-corruption be taught in schools from the primary level onwards?" he added.
The Iskandar Puteri MP also agreed with Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Koh Kar Chai, who chastised the MACC for releasing an advertisement about corrupt doctors at a time when the graft buster is facing questions about its own integrity.
The anti-corruption awareness video posted by the MACC on Twitter had depicted an example of how bribery may occur at a clinic to obtain a medical certificate.
"Why didn't the MACC release a video depicting the corruption of ministers or MPs?" Lim asked. - Mkini
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