PETALING JAYA: MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has been asked to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department when it meets next Wednesday (Jan 19).

       PSC member Chan Foong Hin (PH-Kota Kinabalu) said on Thursday (Jan 13) he was told by its secretariat that Dewan Rakyat secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin had sent the letter of request to Azam.

       It was reported earlier that the PSC will meet next week to discuss the share trading controversy involving Azam,

       PSC chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai) also said Thursday that he had asked the secretariat on Dec 30 to arrange for the meeting but it had to go through several procedures before the date could be fixed.

       "All invitations have been issued to all nine committee members on Wednesday (Jan 12) evening," he said when contacted Thursday.

       The PSC is among the eight new select committees announced in August 2018 by former speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof under the then Pakatan Harapan government to monitor key government ministries and issues.

       Select committees have the prerogative to summon witnesses and previously held hearings to scrutinise how Putrajaya spends taxpayers’ money.

       Next week's meeting will be held at 2pm in Parliament.

       Chan had also said that normally, the meeting would involve the head of the agency concerned to be called up to appear in front of the PSC to explain their case first.

       This would be followed by a question-and-answer session, he said.

       "After the process, we may table a report to Parliament," he added.

       Allegations recently surfaced that Azam owned a substantial number of shares in Gets Global Bhd as well as Excel Force MSC Bhd between 2015 and 2016 when he was the MACC director of investigations.

       Azam maintained that he did not commit any wrongdoing and was prepared to face any investigations if the need arose.