KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Azam Baki has maintained his innocence over the latest stock trading controversy, saying he is ready to be questioned by the authorities.

       The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said he is ready to face the MACC complaints committee if he is summoned for questioning.

       Azam said on Saturday (Jan 8) that he is also ready to face the music if his case is referred to the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (Acab), because he has nothing to hide.

       He also said he was confident that he did not commit any crime or abuse of powers, as alleged by certain quarters.

       In explaining the issue on Wednesday (Jan 5), Azam said his brother had borrowed his trading account to buy shares in the open market and financed the purchases on his own.

       It involved substantial amounts of shares bought from Gets Global Bhd and Excel Force MSC Bhd between 2015 and 2016 when Azam was the MACC director of investigations.

       Azam said the same explanation was given to the MACC's Acab after he was summoned to explain the matter on Nov 24.

       In the same press conference on Wednesday, Acab chairman Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang said the board was satisfied with Azam's statement and there was no conflict of interest on Azam's part as MACC chief over the acquisition of shares in 2015.

       However, on Saturday (Jan 8) afternoon, six MACC advisory board members dropped a bombshell, disputing Abu Zahar's statement.

       The six - Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar, Datuk Dr Hamzah Kassim, Datuk David Chua Kok Te, and Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff, said that board members were not satisfied with Azam's explanation.

       "We categorically wish to state that the board members at that meeting or at any time thereafter did not express such opinions as Abu Zahar attributed to," said the joint statement.

       The six also said the comments were Abu Zahar's personal views and a separate discussion was held on the matter where several proposals were made, including to bring the issue before an independent committee, Parliamentary Special Committee on Corruption or the MACC's complaints panel.

       "However, our views and proposals were not raised at Abu Zahar's press conference. Acab has no investigating powers as it is established as an advisory board.

       "We need to provide this clarification to safeguard the integrity of the board and the institution," said the six.