Accusations against Azam not factual, says anti-graft advisory board

One of the MACC's five independent oversight bodies has indicated that the agency’s chief commissioner Azam Baki committed no wrongdoing in the recent shareholdings scandal.

Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chairperson Salim Fateh Din said the body took the issue seriously, but said the MACC can't be judged based on "unbalanced" reports.

"The ACAB stressed that the MACC's integrity as an enforcement institution can't be judged through accusations and confusing narratives that are not based on facts.

"What more when it ignores check and balance mechanisms and the role of independent observers created by law," Salim (above) said in a statement today.

He said the ACAB noted that Azam had declared his shareholdings through official channels in line with regulations, and as such, there should be no speculation and allegations of non-compliance.

The ACAB chairperson, however, did not address concerns that Azam may have flouted a rule limiting shares purchased by civil servants to not more than RM100,000 in a single company.

READ MORE: PSD reviewing 'outdated' shareholdings rule after Azam scandal

Azam’s shares

Azam responded yesterday by saying that his shareholding did not involve paid-up capital but was instead acquired through purchases on the open market.

Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) records revealed that Azam had at some point held 17.7 million shares in Velocity Capital Partner Berhad and around 4.52 million shares in Awanbiru Technology Berhad.

The MACC chief said he had declared all his shareholdings to the PSD and had disposed of his portfolio by July last year, though he did not mention a specific date.

Between June 1 and July 31 last year, Velocity Capital Partner shares had traded as low as RM0.06 per share and RM0.075 per share.

If Azam had disposed of his shares in the company during this period, the value of the shares could have been between RM1.06 million and RM1.327 million.

As for Awanbiru Technology, their share prices during the June 1 and July 31, 2025 period ranged from RM0.275 per share to RM0.305.

If Azam had disposed of his shares in this company during that period, the value of the shares could have been between RM1.24 million and RM1.378 million.

In his statement today, Salim also stressed that the ACAB will keep a tight watch on MACC's professionalism and transparency, and will do so independently, objectively, and responsibly without external influence.

• 'Go back to class': Rafizi chides MACC chief over share capital remarks

• MACC colluded with businesspersons to strong-arm rivals: Bloomberg

• Hardworking doesn't exempt anyone, even Azam, from probe - PAC chief

• PSD reviewing 'outdated' shareholdings rule after Azam scandal

• 'Read his explanation' - PM's faith in Azam unshaken

MACC colluded with businesspersons to strong-arm rivals: Bloomberg

'Read his explanation' - PM's faith in Azam unshaken

Azam says does not own any more shares, to send LOD to Bloomberg

How could you afford these shares, Pua asks Azam

DAP MP wants independent probe into Azam; PAC chief issues quit call

Azam has shares in another company worth over RM1m

Azam has shares exceeding civil service limits again, PM urged to act