Amanah urged Ismail Sabri to suspend Azam Baki

PUTRAJAYA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob needs to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to suspend Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said this as Azam is faced with allegations of possessing shares in several public listed companies.

"We, in Amanah, who stand on the principles of integrity and democracy demand that Ismail Sabri take action based on Article 40 (1) of the Federal Constitution to suspend Azam from his post until an independent investigation is done,'' he said.

Salahuddin said the people won't remain silent until the prime minister takes action, adding that strict action must be taken as this has become a national issue.

He also questioned as to how Azam, a civil servant, could own such a huge amount of shares as revealed for the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, the party's vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said it was not enough to hear explanations from Azam as the allegations were serious in nature.

"We need to follow the procedures under the law, that’s why we have the courts, the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. We humbly hope the King will speak up on the matter,” he said.

Mahfuz told reporters that they had outlined three demands: a parliamentary session to discuss the allegations against Azam, a parliamentary committee to study the matter, and action by the prime minister to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to order Azam to go on garden leave pending completion of investigations against him.

The two Amanah leaders together with other party members submitted a memorandum to the prime minister asking him to take the allegations against Azam more seriously.

The group repeatedly chanted for Azam to step down.