ACAB board members distance themselves from Abu Zahar, says action to exonerate MACC chief was "personal"
08 Jan 2022 03:38pm
Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) Chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang spoke during a special press conference at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on January 5. -- Bernama Photo
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We the undersigned members of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s Advisory Board(ACAB), wish to clarify the press statement by ACAB Chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang on January 5, 2022.
At his press conference, Tan Sri Abu Zahar said that after a lengthy discussion following a meeting with MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki on November 24, 2021, that the Board found that Azam did not have any pecuniary or beneficial interest in the issue of purchased shares of the amount reported.
Abu Zahar said that the Board was satisfied with the explanation given by Azam. He further said there was no crime committed or conflict of interest in the matter.
We categorically wish to state that the Board members at that meeting or at any time thereafter did not express such opinion as Abu Zahar attributed to.
We also wish to state that these comments were entirely Abu Zahar’s personal view.
Prior to the press conference, members of the Board had a separate discussion with Abu Zahar and proposed that the matter be further referred to any of the following panels and committees:
i) An Independent Committee;
ii) The Parliamentary Special Committee on Corruption;
iii) MACC’s Complaints Panel.
However, our views and proposals were not raised at Abu Zahar’s press conference.
The ACAB has no investigation power as it is established as an Advisory Board.
We need to provide this clarification in order to safeguard the integrity of the Board and the institution.
The list is undersigned by:
Tan Sri Ismail Omar
Datuk Seri Azman Ujang
Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar
Datuk Dr. Hamzah Kassim
Datuk David Chua Kok Tee
Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohammad Agus Yusoff
