JOHOR BARU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been urged to solve the controversy surrounding Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

       Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said that this was because the anti-graft body was under the purview of the Prime Minister.

       “This meant that Azam, as the MACC chief commissioner, is responsible to the Prime Minister where he is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to such a position on the advice of the Prime Minister under Article 40(1) of the Federal Constitution.

       “This means that Ismail Sabri needs to resolve the controversy over Azam Baki's position as MACC chief commissioner, which is currently disputed regarding the issue of shares held by him in listed companies,” he said in a statement here on Thursday (Jan 6).

       Hassan called upon Ismail Sabri to take a transparent and fair step as the Prime Minister to advise Azam to go on leave.

       He said Ismail Sabri needs to seek advice from the Attorney General, who also acts as the Public Prosecutor on Azam’s legal position.

       Hassan added the Prime Minister should also start the initiative of lodging official reports to the MACC and police respectively pertaining to Azam.

       “Let the MACC and police submit the investigation papers professionally to the Attorney General’s Chambers cum public prosecutor to decide whether a charge should be imposed on Azam or not,” he said.