MACC: Embattled Chief Azam Baki Has The Agency's Support Against "Politics Of Revenge"
The anti-graft body said that the accusations and attacks against its chief commissioner are motivated by politics of revenge to tarnish MACC's image and credibility.
By Sadho Ram — 09 Jan 2022, 12:10 PM
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today, 9 January, issued a memorandum of support for its embattled chief commissioner Azam Baki, who is embroiled in serious allegations of impropriety
In a statement, the anti-graft body said that the entire MACC staff are standing behind the leadership of Azam for the sake of the agency's continued fight against corruption in the country.
It was jointly signed by MACC's three deputy chief commissioners — Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya (operations), Norazlan Mohd Razali (prevention), and Junipah Wandi (management and professionalism).
"We represent the whole of MACC in stating our stand of supporting Azam's leadership," it read.
This comes after recent allegations that Azam owned a substantial number of shares in Gets Global Bhd as well as Excel Force MSC Bhd between 2015 and 2016 when he was the MACC director of investigations.
The MACC chief has maintained that he did not commit any wrongdoing.
According to the anti-graft body, the allegations and attacks against Azam are "politics of revenge" to tarnish MACC's image and reputation
"We are of the view that the allegations and attacks made against him are motivated by the politics of revenge, to tarnish MACC's image and credibility. We urge all quarters to stop this crisis and let the legal process run in a fair, transparent, and equitable manner," read the statement posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Minister in Prime MInister's Department Wan Junaidi Jaafar also came to the defence of Azam, downplaying the gravity of the scandal by noting the share's affordability at the time of purchase
In a statement yesterday, 8 January, Wan Junaidi said when the shares were first purchased in 2016, the one million shares were only valued at RM330,000 – approximately priced between RM0.30 and RM0.33 per share and the current share size he is holding at the moment had accumulated over the years.
"Based on the initial price, it is not an expensive share to acquire. I believe it is affordable to many of us and for those who are active stock market traders, it is also normal to gradually increase your shareholding over time especially when you see the potential," he said, adding that there is no law or regulations preventing government servants from acquiring shares in public listed companies.
