In the most bizarre turn of events yesterday, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Azam Baki finally broke his silence regarding the serious corruption allegations against him.

Not only did the MACC Chief admitted to the allegations, he also double-downed by claiming that the shares in two companies were bought by his brother using his name and as such, absolves Azam from any wrongdoings. Even more perplexing is the fact that despite Azam’s outlandish claims, the MACC Corruption Prevention Advisory Board actually sided with the MACC Chief.

Public servants are barred from owning more than RM100,000 value of shares in any company. Furthermore, they are also required to declare all their assets to their heads of departments under the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993.

In response to the revelation yesterday, two DAP Members of Parliament (MPs) who are also members of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee for Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department have again reiterated their call for the committee to convene a meeting and summon Azam Baki to testify.

In a joint statement today, the MP for Kota Kinabalu, Chan Foong Hin and MP for Kota Melaka, Khoo Poay Tiong both expressed their great shock at Azam Baki’s response, especially the MACC Chief’s claim that he is not unanswerable to anyone, especially the public.

As MPs elected by the rakyat, both Poay Tiong and Foong Hin took great exception with Azam’s statement purporting to oust the legislature’s jurisdiction in calling for an investigation into the scandal. Furthermore, both MPs also questioned the loopholes in Azam’s explanation for the shares purchase, asserting,

“Why didn’t the brother just buy the shares using his own account in the first place? Why is there a need for the brother to buy the shares using Azam’s trading account first? The general public do not buy Azam’s explanation as it stands. All these needs answering by Azam.”

Despite exonerating Azam Baki, the MACC Corruption Prevention Advisory Board is not meant as a tool to clear MACC members of corruption and a more transparent investigation must be made.

Hence, it is essential that the MACC Chief comes clean to the public and both Poay Tiong and Foong Hin opined that the best way to do so is for Azam to answer to the PSC for Agencies Under the Prime Minister’s Department in which the transcript of the investigation will be made available to the public.

We must return the public’s trust towards MACC. Azam Baki must urgently be called in to testify before the PSC to give evidence of his claims and be investigated in the most transparent and accountable manner. – The Rocket.