Terence Gomez: SC’s finding’s unacceptable, reiterate calls for Azam to go on leave pending transparent investigations

SHAH ALAM – Edmund Terence Gomez has once again reiterated his call for an independent investigation against Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, following the conclusion of the Securities Commission's (SC) inquiries where it was unable to find any breaches of trading law.

Gomez, who quit last year from the MACC panel due to the allegations surrounding Azam, said the SC's overall conclusion to its inquiry is "unacceptable" and raises more questions on why investigations on the matter were not done transparently.

"The SC’s unstated reason why it was unable to conclusively determine the validity of the allegations against Azam Baki raises a very disturbing question: why is it that all attempts to institute an investigation into these allegations have not resulted in an in-depth and open enquiry?

"Although these allegations were raised by the media, discussed in Parliament, and brought to the attention of the MACC’s Advisory Board, no independent investigation was undertaken. Now that an investigation has finally been undertaken, we are told by the SC that it is unable to determine if Azam had breached the law,'' he said in a statement today.

Following this “disturbing” series of events, Gomez had also called for Azam to go on garden leave pending the conclusion of an independent investigation.

“The government has not acted decisively on this issue, allowing MACC’s Chief Commissioner to remain in office while he was being investigated.

“What is now required, given the SC’s inability to provide an informed view of the allegations against Azam Baki, is that the Government should immediately establish an independent committee to review this matter,’’ he said.

In a brief statement yesterday, the SC said it was not able to conclusively establish whether Azam had potentially breached the law under section 25(4) Securities Central Depository Act 1991 (SICDA)

Section 25(4) SICDA stipulated that a trading account must be opened in the name of the beneficial owner or authorised nominee.

Similarly, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Agencies Under the Prime Minister’s Department scheduled meeting on Jan 19, meant to discuss the allegations on Azam, was also postponed indefinitely due to matters of law, according to a brief statement issued by the Dewan Rakyat Secretary on Monday (Jan 17).

It was also reported that Azam had objected to the nature of the PSC inquiry.