PETALING JAYA: A group of 50 civil society organisations want Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to initiate an independent investigation into Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

       In a joint statement Tuesday (Jan 11), the organisations also said that such an investigation was “much-needed to restore the credibility of the MACC”.

       The group also demanded answers to questions raised which included how Azam's brother was permitted to buy shares on his securities account, which could be a violation of the Security Industry (Central Depositories) Act.

       It also asked why Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang had allegedly disregarded the views of the other members of the board and relied on his personal opinion to exonerate Azam.

       “Why did the other members of the advisory board remain silent about the complaints raised by Dr Terence Gomez after they attended a meeting on Nov 24 to discuss them?” the group asked in the statement.

       The statement was initiated by Aliran, Gerak, Patriot and Suaram and endorsed by another 46 civil society organisations.

       The group also demanded that Azam be put on leave while waiting for the outcome of the investigation; and urged him to withdraw the letter of demand against the whistleblower.

       “The MACC should also be removed from the Prime Minister’s Department and placed under the oversight of a bi-partisan parliamentary special select committee,” the joint statement also said.