Former officers of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have reminded all quarters to follow the rule of law in the wake of a barrage of attacks by opposition politicians against the chief commissioner of the anti-graft body.

The Association of Former MACC Officers also warned that the attacks against Azam Baki not only ignored the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”, but would also undermine the commission’s main job of fighting corruption.

“The association holds firm to the principle that a person is innocent until proven otherwise through the legal process, rather than through a public trial or trial by media.

“We also have confidence in the country’s criminal justice system as well as the legal process that guarantees the ‘dignity’ of individuals and organisations, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” the association’s president Mazlan Mohamad said in a statement.

Azam has come under attack over a series of blog articles by an activist linked to C4 Center, claiming conflict of interest in the ownership of company shares.

The veteran graft buster has since issued a demand letter to the writer of the articles, Lalitha Kunaratnam, with the MACC lodging a police report against her, describing her claims as false and unsubstantiated by evidence.

Top Pakatan Harapan leaders have meanwhile urged for Azam to go on leave, and called for Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang to be investigated after the latter cleared Azam of allegations of conflict of interest.

Mazlan in his statement today said both the police and the Securities Commission should be allowed to deal with the allegations.

“The association also requests that all parties whether or not with interest in this issue fully support the legal process of the country and not on act based on emotions.”