Group plans May 24 gathering to protest Azam's contract extension

Summary

• The Sekretariat Undur Azam Baki has called for the public to gather at Dataran Merdeka at 8pm on May 24 to protest the MACC chief commissioner’s contract extension.

• The movement says the rakyat will be provided a platform to voice their opinions against the reappointment.

A civil society movement is planning to gather at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday to protest the contract extension granted to MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.

In a statement today, the Sekretariat Undur Azam Baki (Step Down Azam Baki Secretariat) said the “Pidato Rakyat: Undur Azam Baki” (Public Speech: Step Down Azam Baki) gathering is slated to take place at 8pm on May 24.

It is aimed at voicing the public’s displeasure over his lengthened tenure.

“(Azam’s) reappointment as the MACC chief commissioner is a move that has tainted a public institution’s principles of integrity and responsibility.

“The decision is an obvious insult by the Madani government towards efforts to recover the rakyat’s confidence in the nation’s administrative and justice systems,” it added.

The movement said the gathering is meant to be a platform for the rakyat to make known their firm stance against Azam’s continued presence in the anti-graft agency while also calling for a comprehensive reform of the MACC as an institute.

It also said that it is continuing the #TangkapAzamBaki campaign, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim endorsed when he was the opposition leader in 2022.

“We call on all Malaysians who care about the nation’s dignity and integrity to be present and show their solidarity at this gathering,” it added.

The secretariat’s statement was also uploaded on the Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan Instagram page.

Similar protest

Previously, a Sabah student movement similarly announced a rally to protest, among others, Azam’s reappointment.

The Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 (Peaceful Rally Against Sabah Corruption 2.0), set for June 21 and 22, is pushing to be a “firm warning” to those who have brought ruin to Sabah for personal gain.

Last week, Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar granted consent to Azam’s reappointment as the nation’s top anti-graft officer.

Azam, 62, has held the position since March 9, 2020, succeeding Latheefa Koya, and was reappointed in May 2023 and May 2024.

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.

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