Corruption

Malaysia will continue in the corruption slide unless the MACC sets an example of accountability and transparency starting with its Chief Commissioner Azam Baki in the Azamgate affair

By Kit

July 02, 2022

(Versi BM)

Malaysia will continue in the corruption slide unless the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) sets an example of accountability and transparency starting with the MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki in the Azamgate affair.

Recently, political economist Edmund Terence Gomez said it is time for the MACC to have an “arm’s length” relationship with the executive branch of the government, especially with regard to the appointment of the anti-graft agency’s top commissioner. This follows the incident where several prominent politicians were implicated recently when a witness in a graft case in court testified on the Ultra Kirana Sdn. Bhd (UKSB) ledger during the corruption trial of UMNO president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Although Gomez’ proposal is apt and appropriate, it is quite far-fetched when the MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki is answerable to no one, not even the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Azam Baki was supposed to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department in January this year to explain the Azamgate affair on his shareholdings but the PSC meeting was postponed at the last minute because Azam had written a letter objecting to the PSC meeting.

The PSC Chairman, Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS – Kuala Krai) said the PSC was seeking advice from its legal adviser.

Six months have passed and Malaysians are entitled to ask what has happened to Azamgate affair.

Parliament is meeting later this month.

Will a full explanation be given to Parliament as to what has happened to Azamgate, and whether Parliament is helpless in a situation where the MACC Chief Commissioner is not even answerable to Parliament?

(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah on Saturday, 2nd July 2022)

Malaysia akan terus terjunam ke kancah rasuah melainkan SPRM menunjukkan tauladan kebertanggungjawaban dan ketelusan bermula dengan Ketua Pesuruhjayanya, Azam Baki

Malaysia akan terus terjunam ke kancah rasuah melainkan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menunjukkan tauladan kebertanggungjawaban dan ketelusan, bermula dengan Ketua Pesuruhjayanya, Azam Baki dan skandalnya.

Baru-baru ini, pakar ekonomi politik, Edmund Terence Gomez, yang mengatakan sudah tiba masanya untuk Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) untuk mempunyai hubungan yang terpisah dengan pihak Eksekutif kerajaan, terutamanya dalam hal ehwal pelantikan pesuruhjaya tertinggi badan anti-rasuah tersebut. Perkara ini berikutan kejadian di mana beberapa orang pemimpin politik terpalit baru-baru ini apabila seorang saksi memberikan keterangan mengenai lejar Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) semasa perbicaraan rasuah presiden UMNO Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Walaupun cadangan Gomez ini tepat, perkara ini sukar untuk dicapai apabila Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM, Azam Baki, tidak bertanggungjawab kepada sesiapa sekali pun, termasuklah kepada Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Parlimen mengenai Agensi di Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

Azam Baki sepatutnya hadir di hadapan Jawatankuasa ini pada bulan Januari tahun ini untuk memberikan penjelasan mengenai skandal berhubungan pemilikan sahamnya, tetapi mesyuarat Jawatankuasa ini ditunda pada saat akhir kerana Azam telah memberikan surat bantahan terhadap mesyuarat ini.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa ini, Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS – Kuala Krai) mengatakan yang Jawatankuasa tersebut sedang mendapatkan nasihat daripada penasihat undang-undangnya.

Enam bulan sudah berlalu dan rakyat Malaysia berhak untuk bertanya apakah yang sudah berlaku mengenai skandal ini.

Parlimen akan bersidang dalam bulan ini.

Adakah penjelasan penuh akan diberikan kepada Parlimen mengenai skandal ini, dan sama ada Parlimen tidak mampu berbuat apa-apa mengenai situasi di mana Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM sendiri pun tidak bertanggungjawab terhadap Parlimen?

(Kenyataan Media Ahli Parlimen DAP Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang di Gelang Patah pada hari Sabtu, 2 Julai 2022)