MP: Wrong for Agencies Committee to not deliberate on Azam's objections

 

The decision by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department to postpone its meeting has come under fire.

Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (above) said at the very least, the committee should have deliberated on MACC chief Azam Baki's objections to testifying before them.

Akmal said bipartisan select committees are part of the three pillars - legislative, executive and judiciary - and therefore are mandated to keep the other branches in check.

"If Parliament accepts (Azam's objections) without first discussing the objections, the legislative will be seen as a joke and this will invite an integrity crisis," Akmal told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini today learnt that the Agencies Committee chairperson Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai) had written to eight other committee members on Azam's objections. 

Among others, Azam said allegations regarding his previous equity stake in a public-listed company were already the subject of a defamation suit and investigations by other authorities.

As such, he argued that his testimony before the Agencies Committee would violate Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders.

MACC chief Azam Baki

At around noon today, members of the Agencies Committee were informed that the hearing this Wednesday was postponed.

PKR to petition PM

Meanwhile, Akmal said PKR Youth will petition Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to overcome the "crisis" surrounding the MACC when Parliament reconvenes on Thursday.

Akmal, who is PKR Youth chief, in his correspondence to Ismail Sabri today, said the petition will include recommendations.

"Although there have been many calls by various parties, the failure to manage issues concerning integrity will lead to an erosion of public confidence in the fight against corruption and abuse of power.

"Moreover, the government and Parliament have not shown any clear efforts to reform institutions such as the MACC to avoid problems from recurring," he said in his letter that has been made available to the media.

Ismail Sabri had called for a special one-day sitting of the Dewan Rakyat this Thursday for him to brief the House on the government's flood response.

No legislation is on the agenda. A 14-day notice for the sitting also effectively meant that MPs could not submit regular motions to the speaker's office. - Mkini