SHAH ALAM - The government has been urged to provide a detailed disclosure of the investigation findings into the share ownership issue involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, which has recently drawn public attention.
Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said the release of details such as the number of shares owned and the companies involved was important to prevent further speculation.
Rafizi, who is also a former economy minister said the information known so far was based only on a press conference by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, which did not fully explain the findings of the investigation.
“As long as the government does not transparently announce the investigation results, including the total shares involved, the number of companies and how the breach occurred, speculation on this matter will continue to intensify.
“At some point, it will also continue to be reported by the media, as seen in several disclosures so far. The public has the right to know the details of the investigation because if the amount of shares discovered is RM14 million, as alleged, the issue should not be treated merely as a breach of civil service regulations.
“A shareholding worth RM14 million raises questions about the source of Azam Baki’s wealth and income as it does not correspond with his earnings as a senior public servant,” he said in a statement on Friday.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson said the Cabinet had decided that further action would be taken by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar following the findings of the Attorney-General’s investigation into Azam.
Fahmi had said for now, he will not disclose the findings until Shamsul takes action.
Rafizi added that normally when individuals are investigated over questionable wealth, the MACC would take several measures such as freezing bank accounts and requiring the person under investigation to declare their assets, but this had not happened in Azam’s case.
He also warned that the government risked being accused of complicity if the allegations against the head of the anti-corruption agency proved to be true.