'Why the silence?' Government urged to come clean over claim that Azam has RM14 million shares in 9 companies

An anti-graft pressure group has questioned the silence from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over a claim circulating that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki was found to hold shares worth about RM14.4 million in nine companies.

Malaysians Against Governmental and Institutional Corruption (Magic) said there was "deafening silence" almost a week after the alleged finding by a government committee was highlighted by former minister Rafizi Ramli.

"No response, no clarification and, crucially, no denial from the prime minister, the minister of home affairs, the MACC or Azam Baki himself," said lawyer and Magic founder Mahajoth Singh.

"This silence is all the more striking in light of repeated statements that the committee’s report would be ready within days. If the disclosure was incorrect or untrue, it ought to have been refuted immediately."

On March 13, Rafizi urged the government to publicly disclose the outcome of the probe into Azam, stating that speculation was circulating that the three-member investigation committee led by Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokthar found he holds shares worth more than RM14 million in nine companies, far exceeding the amount reported by Bloomberg last month.

"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," said the Pandan MP.

Mahajoth said the absence of any response from the government defeats the purpose of the special investigation committee.

"After all, it was the prime minister himself who gave assurance in Parliament that this matter would be addressed transparently and in accordance with due process.

"That assurance gives rise to a legitimate expectation that it will be honoured. The rakyat are therefore entitled to expect that the outcome of this investigation will be disclosed. Continued silence raises serious concerns of procedural unfairness and a departure from the rule of law," he added.

He said Putrajaya must publicly disclose the findings of the committee, including the list of companies linked to Azam's share ownership.

"In the absence of any immediate disclosure, the entire process begins to resemble a facade rather than a genuine exercise in accountability," he said.

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.