PETALING JAYA: Several members of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Agencies under the Prime Minister's Dept have urged chairman Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman to carry on with proceedings on MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki's share trading controversy on Wednesday (Jan 19).

       Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong said in a Facebook Live broadcast Tuesday (Jan 18) that the proceedings should go on with or without Azam’s presence.

       He said it was relevant that the meeting go on, even without Azam, to establish the terms of reference pertaining to the probe into the share ownership.

       He added that this would include finalising details on who else would be summoned by the PSC, with Azam’s brother Datuk Nasir Baki among the names proposed.

       The DAP lawmaker said that under the Standing Orders, the PSC has the power to call in any person to obtain information related to its investigations.

       In a letter addressed to all MPs on Monday (Jan 17), Parliament secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin said the special meeting scheduled on Wednesday had been postponed due to several legal issues.

       Dr Nizam said a new date would be announced later.

       “The meeting scheduled on Wednesday will be postponed to a later date, as there are several issues that require opinions from the Parliament legal adviser’s office,” he said in the letter.

       Azam was initially scheduled to meet and be questioned by the nine-member PSC at 2pm on Wednesday.

       “We are Parliament, we are supposed to be higher than anyone else.

       “How can we be listening to him? We should insist that Azam come. By right, this should be the way,” Khoo said.

       “This is why we say we have to proceed with our meeting. We want to discuss who will be called in for questioning, including his brother.

       “We are also considering summoning Azam’s superior in MACC at the time to determine whether Azam had declared his ownership of shares and to whom, as well as the Securities Commission on how it is conducting its probe,” he said.

       The press conference was also joined by by Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Selayang MP William Leong while Sepanggar MP Datuk Azis Jamman was the only committee member from Pakatan Harapan who was absent.

       Khoo said Azam must attend the proceeding when summoned, but he can choose to deflect or refuse to answer any question.

       He added that if Azam insisted on not being present, the PSC would consider the next course of action against him.