ACAB denies Abu Zahar’s statement

8 Jan 2022 By Farah Salim KUALA LUMPUR: Members of Anti-Corruption Advisory Board have denies its chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang’s statement that the Board was satisfied with MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s explanation over an allegation of power abuse. During a press conference on Jan 5, Abu Zahar claimed that the after a lengthy discussion following a meeting with Azam Baki on Nov 24, the Board found that he did not have any pecuniary or beneficial interest on the issue of purchased shares of the amount reported. “Abu Zahar said that the Board was satisfied with the explanation given by Azam. He further said there was no crime committed or conflict of interest in the matter. “We categorically wish to state that the Board members at that meeting or at any time thereafter did not express such opinion as Abu Zahar attributed to,” said the Board members in a joint statement today. The statement was signed by Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar, Datuk Dr. Hamzah Kassim, Datuk David Chua Kok Tee, and Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohammad Agus bin Yusoff. “We also wish to state that these comments were entirely Abu Zahar's personal view.” Prior to the press conference, the Board said it had a separate discussion with Abu Zahar and proposed that the matter be further referred to any of the following panels and committees: i) an Independent Committee; ii) the Parliamentary Special Committee on Corruption; iii) MACC's Complaints Panel. “However, our views and proposals were not raised at Abu Zahar's press conference. “The ACAB has no investigation power as it is established as an Advisory Board. We need to provide this clarification in order to safeguard the integrity of the Board and the institution.”