KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) has voiced its support for its chief commissioner, claiming the allegations against Tan Sri Azam Baki were an act of "political revenge".
The anti-graft agency, said this in a 'Memorandum of Support to Azam Baki' issued today, which was signed by Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali and Deputy Chief Commissioner (Management and Professionalism) Datuk Junipah Wandi.
"We represent the entire MACC community in stating our stand in support of MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki's leadership.
"We are of the view that the allegations and attacks made are motivated by the politics of revenge to tarnish the image and credibility of the MACC," they said in a joint statement today.
They urged all parties to allow the legal process to be conducted in a fair, transparent and equitable manner.
"We urge all parties to stop this crisis and allow the legal process to run fairly, transparently and equitably.
"The MACC community remain united in defending the institution of the Chief Commissioner and the agency to prevent the continuation of corruption in this beloved country," the statement read.
On Dec 27 last year, Professor Dr Edmund Terence Gomez resigned from the MACC Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel over the panel's lack of action following the allegations against Azam, who allegedly owned close to two million shares in a public listed company.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Azam said that his superiors were informed when he allowed his brother to buy shares using his trading account in 2015. He was head of the MACC's investigations division at the time.
While Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said they had absolved Azam of any criminal conduct, six ACAB board members, in a statement yesterday said they did not come to the same conclusion as Abu Zahar at any meeting before or after the special press conference held on Wednesday, adding that his comments were his own.