Azam appointed to role by the Agong on 2024 for a three-year term.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stated that only His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has the authority to revoke Tan Sri Azam Baki’s appointment as a member of the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC) advisory board.
“The appointment ends in 2027, and only the King can revoke it. It has nothing to do with the MACC chief commissioner,” Anwar told reporters.
The NFCC earlier clarified that Azam was appointed to its advisory board by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 20 September 2024 for a three-year term, ending in 2027. The appointment was made in his individual capacity with the consent of the King and is not tied to his former position as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.
NFCC director-general Datuk Seri Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil said Azam’s membership remains valid until the expiry of his term, unless terminated earlier by the Agong. His attendance at the NFCC advisory board meeting on 30 June was therefore in accordance with the National Centre for Financial Crime Prevention Act 2024.
“Therefore, his membership in the NFCC Advisory Board is not tied to his position as MACC chief commissioner and remains valid until the expiry of his appointment term,” the director-general stated.
The clarification follows criticism over photos of Azam at the meeting that were uploaded on the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ Facebook page. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin questioned the government’s justification for the appointment amid ongoing scrutiny of Azam.
“On behalf of the media, I am asking the government what the justification is for appointing Azam as an NFCC adviser when he himself is being investigated regarding several issues,” Hamzah said.
Former Selangor exco Ronnie Liu also questioned the status of internal probes into Azam, asking on Facebook: “What happened to the investigation report? Why no RCI (royal commission of inquiry) on Azam and corporate mafia?”
Azam Baki, who retired as MACC chief commissioner in May after his contract was not extended, said he was appointed due to his 37 years of experience in enforcement agencies.
“Therefore, anyone who has an issue with my appointment should get their facts from the NFCC or ask me first,” he was reported as saying.
The controversy surrounding Azam first surfaced in February following a Bloomberg report alleging he held millions of shares in a financial services company. There were also allegations linking the MACC to a “corporate mafia” scandal involving attempts to gain control of publicly listed companies. Azam has denied the allegations.