Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) staff today expressed their support for the leadership of Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

This was stated in a joint statement issued 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 staff in stating our stand in support of the leadership of Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

"MACC staff remain united in defending the institution of the Chief Commissioner and MACC for the sake of prevention of corruption in our beloved country," they said.

Prior to this, allegations of Azam owning interests and shares in several companies were spread on social media and on Wednesday (Jan 5), Azam in a press conference denied allegations of having control over many companies, including conglomerates, and described it as malicious attacks on him.

Azam said the shares were bought through the open market by his brother using his (Azam's) trading account and that there was no wrongdoing involved.

In a separate press conference the same day, Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said the LPPR, one of five independent bodies monitoring the MACC, found no criminal conduct or conflict of interest involving Azam in the shares purchase in 2015.

Yesterday, six other members of the LPPR had stated that Abu Zahar's remarks to the press on Wednesday on Azam did not reflect the Board's views.

In a statement signed by the six members of the seven-member Board, they said Abu Zahar's statement on the matter, including that there was no crime committed or conflict of interest in the case, was the chairman's personal views.

The signatories were Tan Sri Ismail Omar; Datuk Seri Azman Ujang; Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar; Datuk Dr Hamzah Kassim; Datuk David Chua Kok Tee; and Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff.

Meanwhile, the three deputy commissioners in their statement also urged all parties to end the polemics and let the legal process run in a fair, transparent and equitable manner.

"We are of the view that the allegations and attacks made (against Azam) are motivated by the politics of revenge to tarnish the image and credibility of the MACC," they said.

-- BERNAMA