KUALA LUMPUR: A joint committee on integrity and anti-corruption will be set up by Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara to discuss issues related to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

       The matter was announced by the Senate Select Committee on Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption chairman, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim (pic), who added that a joint statement on the matter will be issued soon.

       “We will work on the setting up of this joint committee soon,” said Rais, who is the Dewan Negara president, in a statement yesterday.

       “The committee is of the opinion that the discussion should be expedited since many issues related to governance, integrity and anti-corruption are on the rise,” he said in a Bernama report.

       In addition, Rais said those who give or accept bribes should be investigated and for appropriate action to be taken.

       “The committee took note of the country’s image that had been tarnished due to the increase in corruption cases of late.

       “We must take necessary action to improve this negative image,” he said as many members of civil society demanded for more accountability in the wake of the share ownership issue surrounding the current Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission chief, Tan Sri Azam Baki.

       Meanwhile, attempts by Opposition MPs to debate Azam’s share ownership issue in Dewan Rakyat failed yesterday.

       The matter was raised by Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (PH-Pulai) and Nga Kor Ming (PH-Teluk Intan), who had submitted notices for the matter to be debated during the one-day special sitting.

       Dewan Raykat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun had acknowledged the notices submitted by the two MPs, but clarified that he had no power to set the agenda for the day.

       He noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as head of the House, had called for the special sitting to discuss the recent floods that affected Selangor and several states.

       “I have no power to decide on what is to be debated as it is the absolute discretion of the Head of the House to decide this.

       “This is the same practice which is adopted by the House of Commons in the United Kingdom,” he said.

       Earlier, Salahuddin said debates should be allowed as it involves a high ranking public officer, which would affect the image and integrity of MACC.

       Nga said that Parliament serves as a check and balance and that it should be allowed to debate the issue, which is a serious one affecting the nation.

       Meanwhile, police have recorded the statement of activist Adam Adli following the planned #TangkapAzamBaki rally this Saturday.

       Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Noor Dellhan Yahaya, when contacted yesterday, confirmed that Adam was called to the police headquarters over the issue.

       “He was called to assist investigations over an article published on Jan 14 regarding the call to rally at Dataran Merdeka on Jan 22,” he said.

       Adam, who arrived at the Dang Wangi police headquarters at 2.30pm yesterday, was accompanied by his lawyer Syahredzan Johan.

       Both were seen leaving the premises 40 minutes later, at 3.10pm.

       On Jan 5, Azam said he gave his younger brother Nasir permission to use his securities account after allegations surfaced that he 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.

       In a statement on Wednesday, the Securities Commission said that the evidence gathered at the inquiry into Azam’s trading account showed that he was the named account holder, and had control of the trading account.