THE anti-graft chief’s justification for why he didn’t seem earlier than a Parliament committee to reply questions on his share-trading controversy was not shared by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki mentioned he declined to seem earlier than the Public Select Committee (PSC) for Agencies below the Prime Minister’s Department as a result of it was an “invitation” and never a subpoena.
Azhar, nonetheless, mentioned he didn’t agree with this.
“I have read on news portals that Azam said he was not subpoenaed but only invited.
“I do not agree with this. I definitely do not agree with that statement, if that statement was made by him because he was quoted as saying such,” Azhar mentioned when his view on the matter was sought by Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) within the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
The PSC has sought to query Azam about his shares’ possession.
Azhar mentioned Procedure 83(2) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order famous {that a} summon was akin to a person being “subpoenaed”.
He added that the time period “subpoenaed” was used solely by the courts.
“If a person is summoned, it can be through a letter and it can clearly be stated either firmly or softly.
“If the letter by the (PSC) chairman is clear, then the person who is summoned, invited or required to attend, has to appear, as under 83(2) this is clear,” he mentioned.
Azam mentioned he didn’t seem earlier than the PSC because it was merely an invite for him to attend the assembly and was not a subpoena.
He mentioned if it had been a subpoena, he would have attended as a result of as an enforcement officer, he knew the legislation and would respect it.
However, Azhar mentioned the difficulty of whether or not Azam didn’t need to seem earlier than the PSC didn’t come up for now because the assembly had been postponed and the date left vacant whereas the chairman sought authorized recommendation since Azam had written a letter to lift authorized points pertaining to it.
Azhar additionally mentioned he didn’t have the ability to compel a person to seem earlier than the PSC below 83(2).
“The problem is power and the source of the power. Where is the source of power for me to call someone to appear before the committee? I don’t have the power,” he mentioned, including that the ability lies with the PSC.
