'Azam's contract extension speaks badly of Anwar's govt'

Summary

• Political economist Edmund Terence Gomez says he is ‘appalled’ by Azam Baki’s continued role as MACC chief commissioner.

• The author laments that Azam’s multiple contract extensions do not align with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s anti-corruption stance.

• Subang MP Wong Chen agrees that there is dissatisfaction over the move, moots involvement of a parliamentary committee in contract extensions, and appointments of MACC chief.

The third contract extension for Azam Baki as MACC chief commissioner under the Madani government reflects badly on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, said political economist Edmund Terence Gomez.

The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) chairperson highlighted that Anwar and his fellow Pakatan Harapan politicians had consistently claimed to champion anti-graft measures.

Such vows, Gomez said without mincing his words, ring hollow in light of Azam’s extended tenure amid allegations of corruption levelled against him.

“The question you must ask yourself is this: Why would this prime minister, who says he is opposed to corruption (and that) it is his primary agenda to deal with corruption, keep a man tainted with serious allegations as the MACC chief?

“To make matters worse, (Anwar) has gone on to renew (Azam’s contract).

“I am appalled by Azam’s contract renewal. It speaks very badly of (Anwar’s) administration and his call that he would bring an end to corruption, or at least try to curb it,” the activist said during his book launch in Kuala Lumpur today.

The launch for Gomez’s book, titled “Misgovernance: Grand Corruption in Malaysia”, was jointly organised by the C4 Center and the Coalition for Business Integrity.

A MACC representative is understood to have been part of the audience.

Selective prosecution

Emphasising the need for institutional reforms which would ensure the MACC’s independence, Gomez said certain sectors of the public perceive the anti-graft agency to be executing “selective prosecutions” against individuals deemed to be unaligned with the government.

“(MACC is facing) serious allegations of selective prosecutions, the very fact that (the public) is alleging this raises a red flag.

“If MACC were independent, there would not be any suggestions that Azam’s (tenure) was renewed because the executive powers of the government can use him to selectively prosecute (political opponents),” he added during a panel discussion at the event.

He stressed that to “do away” with talk of MACC’s supposedly targeted prosecution, the agency’s chief must be selected transparently.

“(But), that’s not happening, so is this government really serious about tackling corruption?” he questioned.

He also lamented how Azam’s contract extension blatantly goes against previous promises made by former opposition figures who have since gained positions in Putrajaya.

“Then-opposition members, who are now in power, said in the run-up to the (2022 general) election that the minute they come into power, they will remove (Azam), (but) when they gained power, they chose to keep him.”

Criticisms against Azam

Among the criticisms against Azam is the perception that the MACC has dragged its feet in investigating the Sabah corruption scandal, in which multiple assemblypersons and state government leaders were implicated.

In late 2021, activists and opposition lawmakers - including some with ministerial positions now - had taken part in several gatherings and protests highlighting Azam’s share ownership controversy.

In January 2022, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board cleared Azam of any wrongdoing over his purchase of corporate shares, which was initially accused of breaching the rules for civil servants against owning more than RM100,000 shares in any company. 

The board’s clearance came after Azam claimed that his brother had used his trading account to acquire shares in two companies in 2015 - an assertion later disputed by the Securities Commission.

Gomez had also earlier resigned as a MACC Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel member, citing inaction over the allegations surrounding Azam.

The day after Azam was granted his third extension as the MACC chief, PKR deputy presidential candidate Nurul Izzah Anwar labelled the move “unwelcome” while asking civil servants and personalities to “rise to the occasion”.

Give credit where it’s due

PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen, who was also part of the panel discussion, said that while he believes “many” do not personally agree with Azam’s extension, MACC should be given credit for bringing charges against those suspected of offences.

He said the commission appears to have undertaken “a lot of action” in recent years.

However, the government backbencher suggested that the selection of a MACC chief commissioner be subjected to a vetting process overseen by Parliament’s Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform.

“The committee will be happy to look at his KPI (key performance index). Whether or not we can stop (a re-appointment) is another issue, but at least Parliament will be informed of what he has achieved thus far,” he added.

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