Azam 'professional' on Sabah scandal, unprofessional elsewhere - lawyer

Summary

• Haniff Khatri Abdullah criticises MACC chief for applying inconsistent standards by withholding comments on the Sabah scandal while openly discussing Daim Zainuddin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cases.

• The senior lawyer raises concerns over prejudicial remarks on the two latter cases, creating a negative public perception.

• Haniff warns selective disclosure risks eroding public trust and fuels perceptions of political bias.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki has come under fire over his apparent “selective professionalism”, as starkly different standards are applied to the Sabah scandal compared to cases involving other bigwigs.

Senior lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdullah pointed out that while Azam (above) remained tight-lipped about the Sabah scandal videos to avoid prejudicing those involved, he showed no such restraint in commenting on Daim Zainuddin and former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cases.

“The same standards must be applied. Otherwise, the public will ask - ‘Is it because the complaint regarding Sabah involves the government, so you are not disclosing (details)?’

“‘And you are revealing things about Daim which you are still not entitled to make a decision on, as it is in the prosecution’s hands to decide because it involves a person who has been accused by the leadership of the Anwar Ibrahim government?’

“This is the problem when you make contradictory statements,” Haniff said in a video posted on YouTube.

The veteran lawyer was commenting on Azam’s press conference yesterday, the first since his third contract extension under Anwar, where the anti-graft agency’s top boss said he cannot disclose if the Sabah videos are authentic.

However, on Daim, Haniff pointed out that Azam had no qualms in shaping public perception when he revealed that MACC was pushing for any undeclared assets by the late finance minister to be seized and surrendered to the government.

“If it is the prosecution that makes the decision, who is MACC and Azam to give the impression that assets purportedly worth RM2 billion were not declared. Can he make that decision?

“Secondly, who is he (Azam) to expose and further prejudice Daim’s family by saying the assets are partly owned by the family and friends?

“Why the need to reveal such details when the prosecution has not reached a decision?” he asked.

On Azam’s remarks over Ismail Sabri’s case, Haniff noted that the chief commissioner said the former premier has declared his assets and MACC is preparing to question his former son-in-law in Indonesia.

“It is the right of MACC to investigate, but is it their right to create a prejudicial perception towards Ismail Sabri… Why the need to create a negative perception of him and his family even before investigations are completed?

“Even before the prosecution can review the investigation papers, Azam has planted a perception in the minds of the public that there is something amiss by naming the former son-in-law.

“Is this not prejudicial to Ismail Sabri and his family?” Haniff said, noting that the public is wondering if this is being done because the former premier is not in line with the Madani leadership.

Quit framing narrative

Haniff emphasised it is important for enforcement agencies to adhere to professional standards in order not to create the impression that the executive is abusing them for political objectives.

“Malaysians are tired, Malaysia is ailing because of such things… What is odd is that the remarks on all three cases were made by the same person on the same day, underscoring the contradictory professionalism standards.

“Enough is enough. Change your attitude towards discharging your duties. Your duty is not to plant negative perceptions in the minds of the people before investigations are completed.

“You are responsible for providing updates but not to the extent of revealing all details, the names of the witnesses or family members involved, to the point it can be prejudicial… because you yourself mentioned in the case of Sabah that you do not want to prejudice those involved.

“If you understand that it is inappropriate to comment on matters which can prejudice those involved in the Sabah case, why did you make those remarks about the cases involving Daim and Ismail Sabri at the same time?” he asked.

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