'Nothing to hide' Azam welcomes probe, confident truth will prevail

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said he is open to being investigated by any independent committee established by the government over his share ownership.

“I have nothing to hide,” he asserted in a statement this morning.

Azam said all his financial and asset declarations were made in accordance with applicable public service regulations and through the prescribed official channels, as required of every public servant.

“I welcome any transparent, independent and objective process to ascertain the facts based on evidence and in accordance with the principles of justice and the rule of law.

“Such an approach is important not only to safeguard my personal integrity, but also to preserve public confidence in the MACC as an institution,” he added.

Be prepared to be investigated

Azam said that as a public servant and head of an enforcement agency, he believes that any individual facing allegations should be open and prepared to be investigated independently and transparently.

“This principle must apply to all without exception. A culture of accountability cannot be selective or seasonal,” he noted.

While emphasising that no one is above the law, Azam also reminded that no one should be judged solely on perception or media narratives.

“Throughout my service, I remain committed to the principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law. I will continue to extend my full cooperation to any lawful and properly constituted mechanism established to examine this matter.

“I am confident that the truth will prevail through a fair and independent process,” he added.

Calls for suspension, resignation

Following exposés by Bloomberg and Malaysiakini on Azam’s shareholdings, there have been widespread calls for the MACC chief to be investigated, suspended, or to resign.

The Companies Commission of Malaysia records revealed that Azam had at some point held considerable shares in two publicly listed companies.

Azam had owned 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 Public Service Department 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 the company during this period, the value of the shares could have been between RM1.24 million and RM1.378 million.

The potential value of the MACC chief's shareholdings had triggered questions of whether he had violated a civil service rule that limits share purchases to not more than five percent of paid-up capital or RM100,000 at current value.

Letter of demand

Azam has also issued a letter of demand (LOD) to Bloomberg over what he claims is a defamatory article alleging that he held millions of shares in a financial services company.

His solicitors, Zain Megat & Murad, are also seeking RM100 million in damages for the alleged harm to the MACC chief’s reputation and professional standing.

Bloomberg had published a separate article in which it alleged that members of MACC’s top leadership colluded with business figures in schemes to edge out corporate rivals and orchestrate takeovers.

MACC claimed that the allegations were made with malicious intent to tarnish the commission’s reputation.

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