Azam Baki to continue as MACC chief

Azam Baki has been reappointed as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for a year, effective May 12.

Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali said Azam's reappointment had received the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. 

"It was made in accordance with Subsections 5(1) and (2) of the MACC Act 2009," he said in a statement today.

Azam, who was appointed as MACC chief in March 2020, was recently embroiled in controversy over claims of conflict of interest in his ownership of shares.

He came under scrutiny over the alleged purchase in 2015 and 2016 of shares and warrants at two public-listed companies, but said these had been purchased by his brother using his share trading account, maintaining that he had committed no wrongdoing.

The issue was revealed by activist Lalitha Kunaratnam, against whom Azam filed a defamation suit which is slated for hearing in July.

MACC under his leadership opened investigations this year into Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and Bersatu's Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

It also froze several bank accounts belonging to Bersatu in relation to the alleged misappropriation of funds used by the government when the country was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The agency is also investigating a case involving the recruitment of foreign workers, which saw Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar questioned last month. 

Sivakumar later said that five of his officers had been sacked to ensure smooth operations at the ministry.