Is it true probe found Azam has shares worth RM14 million in 9 companies, asks Rafizi

PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli has urged the government to publicly disclose the outcome of the investigation into Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki, stating that speculation is circulating that the probe found he holds shares worth more than RM14 million in nine companies, far exceeding the amount reported by Bloomberg last month.

Citing "government sources", the former economy minister said there has been speculation that the three-member investigation committee led by Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokthar found Azam's shareholdings span nine companies with a total value of RM14 million, adding that it also found the purchase of the shares was not declared or approved.

"As long as the government does not announce the results of the investigation transparently, including the number of shares involved, the number of companies, and how the violations occurred, speculation on these matters will continue to rage," said Rafizi, warning that the matter would eventually be uncovered by the media.

"The public has the right to know the details of the investigation results because if the amount of shares found is RM14 million as claimed, this issue should not be handled solely as a violation of civil servant regulations," he added.

The government recently confirmed it had received the report from the investigation committee but stopped short of announcing its findings.

Instead, Putrajaya said it had instructed Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar to take follow-up disciplinary action against Azam.

Rafizi said this itself suggested wrongdoing on Azam's part.

He reminded that MACC would normally freeze bank accounts of those it suspects of accumulating wealth illegally.

"If it is true that the total shares in the nine companies amounted to RM14 million, the government's failure to investigate the source of Azam Baki's wealth will be seen as proof that it is colluding to shield him," he said.

"For this reason, I urge the government to immediately announce in detail the results of the investigation so far to avoid speculation, including the number of shares owned and the number of companies involved."

Rafizi's call echoed that of anti-corruption pressure group Malaysians Against Government and Institutional Corruption (Magic), which warned that silence over the findings of the report means Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is going back on his word that the probe into Azam would be transparent.

"There can be no legitimate justification for information of such profound public importance to be withheld from the rakyat," said Magic founder and lawyer Mahajoth Singh.

Last month, Bloomberg published two explosive revelations concerning Azam’s unusual wealth and shocking details of his ties with rogue individuals.

It reported that Azam held millions of shares worth approximately RM800,000 in a listed company, in violation of a government circular prohibiting public servants from such holdings.

Azam has since admitted to purchasing the shares last year, while still the MACC chief.

This was followed by another Bloomberg report on Feb 12, linking Azam to a group of people known as the "corporate mafia", which it said worked in cahoots with the MACC to prey on businessmen and forcefully seize ownership of public-listed companies.

The revelation renewed calls for Azam to be removed as the MACC chief commissioner, and for the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry into the allegations.

Anwar, who has extended Azam's tenure three times, has scoffed at calls to remove Azam.

"The man does his work, why do you want to fire him? Read his explanation. It's a disease. Why do you condemn people who do work? Wrong," Anwar famously replied when answering questions from the press hours after the Bloomberg report.