Publicise task force’s findings on Azam, Rafizi urges govt

2026-03-13 - 08:54

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said rumours will continue to spread until the findings of the task force are made public. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli has urged the government to release the findings of the special task force that investigated the shareholding allegations involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki. Rafizi said there has been speculation on what the task force had concluded from its probe, and that such rumours would continue swirling until the findings are made public. “Malaysians deserve to know the findings of the investigation. If the shares are worth RM14 million as alleged, this should not just be handled as a case of breach in civil service regulations. “It raises questions about the source of Azam’s wealth and income because it does not match the earnings of a senior civil servant,” he said in a statement. The former economy minister said MACC typically takes enforcement action when investigating suspects with suspicious sources of wealth, including freezing their bank accounts and ordering them to declare their assets. “Therefore, I urge the government to immediately announce the findings of the task force’s investigations in detail to put speculation to rest,” he said. Chief secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the public service department’s disciplinary board will examine the special task force’s report on the allegations involving Azam. DAP leaders, including ministers Loke Siew Fook and Gobind Singh Deo, have repeatedly urged the government to form a royal commission of inquiry to probe the allegations against Azam. Bloomberg had reported that Azam held 17.7 million shares (1.7%) in Velocity Capital Bhd, based on the company’s annual return lodged on Feb 3 last year, which is allegedly in breach of a 2024 government circular. Azam insisted that the transaction was declared and the shares were disposed of last year. He also filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg over its report, seeking RM100 million in damages.