Speaker blocks Dewan Rakyat debate on MACC chief Azam Baki’s alleged shares pending taskforce findings
PETALING JAYA: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul has shut down an attempt to bring allegations against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to the floor of Parliament, ruling that the matter should first be allowed to run its course through a specially convened investigative taskforce.
The motion was raised by Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who sought to open a parliamentary debate on allegations surrounding Azam’s purported shareholding in financial services firm Velocity Capital Partner Bhd — an issue that came to public attention following a Bloomberg report on the matter.
Johari, in rejecting the motion, pointed to the existence of the special taskforce established to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations, saying it would be inappropriate — and potentially disruptive — to allow parliamentary debate to proceed while the probe remains active.
“A special task force has been formed to carry out a thorough investigation into the issue. Since this body has already been set up and investigations are either ongoing or about to commence, I am compelled to reject the motion,” the Speaker told the House.
He further noted that it has long been parliamentary practice to allow investigative bodies to complete their work without interference from the legislature. Once the taskforce delivers its findings, he assured members, Parliament would have the opportunity to deliberate on the matter and consider appropriate next steps.
Ramkarpal, however, pushed back on the Speaker’s reasoning. He argued that the formation of a taskforce — which is not a court of law — carries no legal weight in preventing the Dewan Rakyat from exercising its right to debate a matter of significant public concern. Given the widespread media coverage the allegations had already generated, he maintained that the issue warranted immediate and urgent discussion in the House, especially given that it involved the head of the country’s primary anti-corruption body.
“Even though a task force has been formed, it is not a court of law. It does not prevent this House from debating the matter. This is an issue that has made headlines and must be discussed immediately,” Ramkarpal said, urging the Speaker to reconsider.
Despite the pushback, Johari held firm, reiterating that space must be given to the taskforce to operate without disruption. He gave an assurance that parliamentary debate on the issue would follow once the investigation has been concluded.
The taskforce, announced last Friday, is chaired by Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar and includes Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican and Public Services Department director-general Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz as members.
The Sun Malaysia
