'Evidence first,' says PSSC chair over calls for Azam to go on leave

With several quarters urging MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki to resign or go on leave after being linked to a scandal, the head of the parliamentary special select committee on human rights, election, and institutional reform shared a different view.

Its chairperson, William Leong, said the mere mention of someone’s name is not enough to call for an individual to go on leave pending an investigation.

“It depends very much on facts and evidence. The mere mention of the name should not be sufficient to require the person to take leave.

“I think there must be some evidence before requiring the person to be on leave,” Leong, who is the Selayang MP, told Malaysiakini.

In a video exposé on Nov 25, a woman claiming to be Shamsul Iskandar Akin’s proxy said the PKR leader met with Azam (above) at an undisclosed time to ask the MACC chief to “settle” businessperson Albert Tei’s case, referring to the Sabah mining scandal.

“He (Shamsul) himself asked (Azam) to try and ease your case, try to settle it as best as possible, don’t let it drag out,” said Sofia Rini Buyong, who was speaking to Tei behind the camera.

The woman said that Shamsul, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary at that time, had met with Azam, as he too was implicated in the Sabah scandal and was summoned by the MACC chief.

“He (Shamsul) told Azam that he did help you to meet with (Sabah caretaker chief minister) Hajiji (Noor) and all that,” she said.

When asked by Tei whether Shamsul told the MACC chief that the Sabah scandal recordings were “PMX’s orders”, the woman replied: “Azam knows”.

‘No credibility to investigate’

Subsequently, Tei’s lawyer, Mahajoth Singh, called for Azam to resign or go on garden leave, adding that MACC cannot lawfully or credibly investigate the allegations as long as Azam remains the head of the commission.

Two MPs, PAS’ Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and PKR’s Hassan Abdul Karim, also urged Azam to recuse himself from investigating the mining scandal, with the latter even calling for Anwar to be investigated if the video is proven to be authentic.

Shamsul has since resigned as Anwar’s political aide and lodged a police report on the accusations levelled against him.

He is due to give a statement to MACC later today.

• MACC nabs Shamsul, Albert and woman in video; denies pointing gun

• 'Is Albert a terrorist?' - Hanipa questions 'heavy-handed' MACC raid

• Anwar urges ministers to keep tabs on aides following scandal

• 'They pointed a gun at him, deleted videos on phones': Albert's wife

• What about integrity of GRS politicians who didn't resign, Zaid asks PM

• Officers in balaclavas arrest Albert, lawyer in dark on whereabouts

• Warisan leader questions consistency of MACC investigations

Shamsul to provide MACC statement on scandal tomorrow

Shamsul's resignation shows govt upholds integrity - Anwar

'Tainted Madani, distrusted MACC': C4, Bersih and allies fire explosive salvo

Anwar must face probe if 'order to record' video proven authentic: PKR MP