KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel has shot down claims by a former member that it is not acting on the corruption allegations against chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
Its chairman Tan Sri Borhan Dolah said the panel's function was on consultation and prevention of corruption, and not matters concerning the abuse of power by civil servants.
Borhan said it was within former panel member, Prof Dr Edmund Terrence Gomez's right to resign from the panel.
However, he said Gomez's letter of resignation should be addressed to the Prime Minister as all the committee members were appointed by the premier and endorsed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"The function of our panel is consultation and corruptions prevention and (it has) nothing to do with civil officers abusing their powers to be discussed in our panel.
"There is no so-called necessity for us to have a meeting just to discuss the issue concerning the chief commissioner because he is a civil servant.
"According to the civil servant procedure, if there has been an abuse of power or action involving any civil servants, it will be under the purview of Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman.
"If there are any complete documents (on the matter), then it can be directed to Tan Sri Adib so he can take appropriate action, but not to us," Borhan said when contacted by the New Straits Times.
He further explained that in an initial email sent by Gomez in November, the latter had mentioned that the MACC was badly criticised by the public following several corruption cases involving the commission.
Borhan said the panel would assist the commission if needed, and this would be done within the scope of the panel, which is consultation and prevention.
"I told him that I would consider it and I contacted the MACC secretariat for an opinion as this was not within the jurisdiction of the panel.
"There are four panels led by MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Nika Ujang and these respective panels have their own terms of reference."
Borhan also questioned why Gomez's resignation letter must bring up the allegation against Azam, who is a public servant.
"Why did you bring the issue concerning Azam upon your resignation? You should know how civil servants are being addressed. Why bring it up to the panel?
"I do not want my committee to be involved in any political influence; and if there is political pressure on my panel to use them (panel members), I have to stop that.
"He should know this. When he was in the panel, Gomez was not clear in the issue and he wanted to bring the issue involving Azam and this is a new (issue), which was just raised in December, not November.
"So I don't want to be involved in any political claims. I understand you have a certain amount of politician-inclination, but don't bring that to my panel. Don't bring any political interest issues," Borhan said.
Yesterday, Gomez, who is an economist, resigned from the MACC's Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel in a letter addressed to Borhan.
Gomez said his resignation was a sign of protest over the panel's lack of action following the allegations against Azam owning close to two million shares in a public listed company.
On Dec 14, Sungai Buloh member of parliament Sivarasa Rasiah had filed an urgent motion seeking the Dewan Rakyat to discuss Azam's alleged ownership of close to two million shares in a public listed company.