Azam Baki: Politicians queried, but never interfered in MACC cases
The Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin Yassin has never interfered in high profile corruption cases handled by MACC, reiterated its chief Azam Baki.
Azam, who took over the post at the anti-graft agency in March 2020, admitted that cabinet ministers and politicians made queries on these cases...
The Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin Yassin has never interfered in high profile corruption cases handled by MACC, reiterated its chief Azam Baki.
Azam, who took over the post at the anti-graft agency in March 2020, admitted that ministers and politicians made queries on these cases.
"Ever since I become the MACC chief, I can give assurance that there was no interference, no instruction given to me.
"However, it is not logical for me to say (I received) no query at all. I mixed around with the ministers or the politicians, they had asked (about the cases)," Azam said in a live-streamed interview with television channel Alhijrah last night.
"But I give my assurance, merely asking would not influence our decisions in conducting investigations," he said, without elaborating on the queries he received from politicians.
"We will continue to probe the ongoing cases and it is up to the attorney-general to decide if they want to charge the case in court."
Azam was asked if he had faced any political interference in his career as an anti-corruption officer.
He said the fact that the MACC could freely probe a high profile tender monopoly cartel, where dozens of officials were nabbed, proved that the government did not meddle into the graft buster's work.
Similarly, he sees the police force enjoying such "freedoms" in conducting criminal investigations.
"If anyone was to mention interference, then show evidence in which case we came under pressure.
"If the government has the political will not to intervene (in our business), don't be surprised if more cases emerge. If there is interference, these cases will not see the light of the day.
"This is the difference, people will not know what happened (in the corruption cases) if the agency is being restricted," he said.
Azam informed that ongoing trials are conducted as usual and if cases are withdrawn, there must be a reason.
"So, society must also be fair to us. Not many of them talk about the convictions involving high profile cases, but they make noise on one or two cases withdrawn in court," he added.
