Chief Commissioner’s explanation on MACC share acquisition pleased MACC advisory board

Malaysia – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head Tan Sri Azam Baki has been cleared of all charges regarding his acquisition of business shares, according to the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR), Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang Abu Zahar.

According to Abu Zahar, the board had a special meeting with Azam and determined that there was no wrongdoing concerning the acquisition of shares.

All LLPR representatives were present at the meeting, which took place on November 24 of last year.

“LPPR is happy with the explanation provided and has determined that there was no illegal activity or conflict of interest in this situation,” he stated in a news conference held yesterday at the MACC headquarters.

Azam had detailed how he had enabled his younger brother, Nasir Baki, to use his trading account to buy the shares in 2015, says Abu Zahar.

He added that all the shares were transferred back to Nasir Baki in the same year.

Abu Zahar also noted that following the meeting, the board determined that Azam had no “pecuniary interests” or advantages from the purchase or ownership of the shares, and that there was no conflict of interest in the matter.

Former MACC Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel member Edmund Terrence Gomez said that despite several requests, Abu Zahar and the LPPR neglected to convene a meeting to examine the matter. Abu Zahar adamantly denied getting any such formal notification from Gomez.

He further said that if an official notification exists, a copy should be sent to the MACC as verification.

“At the same time (after the November 24 meeting), LPPR advocated informing the public within a certain time frame, but this problem was regrettably previously brought up by Gomez, which surprised me.”

“Surely he (Gomez) understands the structure and duties of all five free panels in monitoring the administration of MACC as an educated man and a member of a panel,” he added.

He further advised that if Gomez was still dissatisfied, he go to the LPPR or the MACC’s complaint committee.