Muda reports Azam over MACC officers' alleged threats against Albert

Muda has lodged a police report against MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki over allegations that Sabah corruption whistleblower Albert Tei was previously threatened by MACC officers to keep quiet and not expose the matter.

Its acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said she filed the report after observing that the agency tasked with combating corruption, particularly Azam, had failed to act on the matter.

“I read an article that was published in July, in which Tei revealed that in October 2024, he intended to lodge a report about mining activities in Sabah, but at that time, he was threatened by senior MACC officers.

“For me, this is absolutely unacceptable. This is a betrayal of the MACC institution. But what’s most unreasonable is that Azam did not say anything or take any action at all regarding the allegations made by Tei.

“I will be lodging a police report urging for an investigation into Azam, on why he remained silent and why not a single investigation was conducted into Tei’s claims,” she told the media in front of the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson also urged the public, regardless of their political affiliation, to lodge similar police reports against Azam.

Protection sought before naming officer

The police report was made together with several lawyers, including Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek.

Amira also said it was deeply unfortunate that an institution which should prevent corruption has remained silent and accused the MACC of appearing to favour certain groups.

On July 23, Tei’s lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, said his client was willing to identify the MACC officer who allegedly warned him against exposing the Sabah mining scandal if Tei were to receive whistleblower protection first.

In a statement to Malaysiakini, Mahajoth revealed the warning came from a high-ranking individual. The lawyer was responding to a statement by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M Kulasegaran, who urged Tei to make an official report and gave assurances that the government would not compromise on any form of intimidation against whistleblowers.

However, Mahajoth said such assurances need to be viewed carefully based on his client’s experience.

‘Why no transparent, thorough investigation?’

Meanwhile, Zaid said the issue was not foreign to the public, noting that there were several videos and audio recordings related to the corruption exposé.

“Why has there been no transparent and thorough investigation into this matter by charging everyone involved in this scandal?

“The MACC has a duty to investigate any corruption incidents - that’s what’s contained in sections seven and 11 of the MACC Act... the responsibility to thoroughly investigate corruption incidents that occur,” he added.

Mahajoth said the investigation’s failure was evident, as no action had been taken despite all evidence being submitted to the MACC.

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