PETALING JAYA: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun does not agree with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s assertion that his refusal to appear before the Special Select Committee on Agencies beneath the Prime Minister’s Department was as a result of it was merely an invite and not a subpoena.
“I’ve learn on-line that Azam stated that he was not subpoenaed however solely invited.
“I do not agree with this, I undoubtedly do not agree with that assertion,” Azhar stated when replying to a query raised by Khoo Poay Tiong (PH – Kota Melaka) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (March 1).
Khoo had requested for the recommendation of Azhar on whether or not he agreed with Azam’s assertion on his refusal to appear before the Committee.
Azhar stated he did not agree with that assertion as he cited Procedure 83(2) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order.
He stated 83(2) that mentions “summoned” is akin to a person being “subpoenaed”.
He added that the time period “subpoenaed” is merely used within the courts.
“If a individual is summoned, it may be by a letter and the letter may be clearly said both firmly or softly.
“If the letter by the chairman is evident then the individual that is summoned, invited, or is required to attend has to appear (before the Committee) as beneath 83(2) that is clear,” he stated.
Previously, Azam had stated that he did not appear before the Committee because it was an invite for him to attend the assembly and not a subpoena.
Azam had stated that if it was a subpoena, he would have attended as a result of as an enforcement officer, he knew the legislation and would respect it.
However, Azhar stated the difficulty of whether or not Azam did not need to appear before the Committee did not come up because the assembly had been postponed and the date had been left vacant for now because the chairman of the Committee had additionally sought authorized recommendation for it as Azam had written a letter to elevate authorized points pertaining to it.
He added that since a date had not been issued for the assembly, the difficulty of Azam not showing before the Committee did not come up.
Azhar additionally careworn that he did not have the facility to compel a person to appear before the Committee beneath 83(2).
