Gomez: MACC panel chief failed to disclose email attachments on Azam's case
Economist Edmund Terrence Gomez has refuted a claim that he did not raise the alleged misconduct by MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki in his emails to the graft buster's Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel prior to his resignation from the panel.
Gomez (above) said that he had sent at least five attachments on the allegations against Azam in his emails to the panel's chairperson Borhan Dolah.
"Borhan states that my emails to him do not...
Economist Edmund Terrence Gomez has refuted a claim that he did not raise the alleged misconduct by MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki in his emails to the graft buster's Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel prior to his resignation from the panel.
Gomez (above) said that he had sent at least five attachments on the allegations against Azam in his emails to the panel's chairperson Borhan Dolah.
"Borhan states that my emails to him do not name Azam, the MACC chief commissioner.
"What Borhan disingenuously fails to disclose is that in my emails, I had five attachments with reports and information on Azam's direct and indirect business ties," the economist said in a statement today.
The attachments were also sent to the MACC's Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang.
He sent to the press a PDF with the dates and contents of his email correspondence with Borhan and Abu Zahar. He also sent the attachments included with the emails.
Based on the emails, Gomez had attached a research document on the allegations against Azam to an email to Borhan and Abu Zahar.
The research document, prepared by an anti-corruption activist, includes similar allegations as made by Sungai Buloh MP Sivarasa Rasiah.
This includes that between 2015 and 2016, when Azam was the MACC's investigation director, he had become the owner of 1,930,000 shares (Sivarasa claimed it was 930,000) in Gets Global Bhd as of April 30, 2015, and a further 1,029,000 shares as of March 31, 2016.
The attachment alleged that as of March 21, 2016, Azam also owned 2,156,000 warrants in public listed Excel Force MSC Bhd, while his younger brother owned 3,728,000 shares in Gets Global.
However, the attachment further alleged that Azam's younger brother was also in business with the relative of a former MACC top officer. Malaysiakini is withholding names pending comments from those named.
Read more: Don resigns from MACC panel in protest of inaction against Azam Baki
Attachments sent
As per his statement yesterday, Borhan had replied to Gomez on Nov 12, saying he would look into the possibility of having the panel meeting.
However, Gomez appears to not have received a response.
He sent follow-up emails to Borhan and Abu Zahar on Nov 26 and Dec 14 to ask when a meeting will be held.
The Nov 26 email included four attachments, including two articles on the allegations against Azam published on a news website, a flow chart on shares held by him, his siblings and associates, and tables on the same matter.
Gomez mentioned that he had sent attachments in the email.
In his Dec 14 email to Borhan, Gomez noted that the matter would be discussed in Parliament and that it would be embarrassing if the panel was asked why it had not looked into the matter despite being aware of it.
Sivarasa would table an emergency motion on the matter on the same day.
Malaysiakini has contacted Borhan and Azam for comments.
Edmund Terrence Gomez's statement in full:
I refer to news reports on the statements made by Tan Sri Borhan Dolah, the chairman of the Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CPPP) of the MACC, about my resignation from this panel.
Tan Sri Borhan states that my emails to him do not name Tan Sri Azam Baki, the chief commissioner of the MACC. What Tan Sri Borhan disingenuously fails to disclose is that in my emails I had five attachments with reports and information on Tan Sri Azam’s direct and indirect business ties. The names of other individuals, including that of a previous MACC Chief Commissioner, are also listed in these attachments. I have appended here for the press these attachments. I leave it to the editors of these media organisations to decide if the contents of these attachments should be disclosed.
I see no value in engaging in an extended exchange with Tan Sri Borhan about our email correspondence. Instead, I am attaching here all email communications between me, Tan Sri Borhan and Tan Sri Abu Zahar Nika Ujang, chairman of the MACC’s Anti-Corruption Advisory Board. I have not amended any of the contents of our email correspondence.
I am disclosing our emails because I do not wish to detract attention from the core issue at hand. An immediate investigation is imperative of the serious allegations about Tan Sri Azam’s business-related activities.
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