Azam Baki cleared, shares belonged to brother Nasir

The Anti-Corruption Advisory Board is satisfied with explanations given by Malaysian Anti -Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki and cleared him of any corruption or power abuse in acquiring shares in 2015.

The board's chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said based on his statements, the shares in question belonged to Azam's brother Nasir Baki.

Abu Zahar said the board did not find any criminal activities or 'conflict of interest' on the matter.

"The board and it's five-man panel met Azam on Nov 24 to clear the air on the issue and to listen from the man himself.

"He made it clear that he did not have any monetary benefit from the shares purchase and (there was) no conflict of interest related to the share purchases at the time.

"Nasir Baki bought the involved shares in 2015.

"However, all of the shares has been moved to Nasir Baki last year," he said during a special press conference today.

Abu Zahar said the board has accepted his explanation and found it to be satisfactory.

When asked why there was a long delay in making the findings public, he said former member of the MACC advisory panel, Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez, had raised the matter first on social media.

Abu Zahar said what Gomez did took them by surprise as he was on the panel and would know the structure and responsibilities they hold to monitor the commission.

On Gomez's resignation, the chairman said Gomez had every right to do so and nobody could stop him.

"Claims that I received a letter from Edmund is not true because I did not receive any letters from him on the matter of the commissioner's shares issue until today," he said.

Abu Zahar said the matter raised by Gomez has given the public a negative perception of the MACC.