KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s government will form a special committee to investigate allegations against the country’s anti-corruption chief, the communications minister said on Friday, following a media report alleging a breach of shareholding laws.
The task force will be led by the country’s Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said during his weekly press conference.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg cited a corporate filing from last year as saying that Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki held 17.7 million shares in a financial services company that were currently worth about 800,000 ringgit ($205,000), well above the 100,000 ringgit limit allowed for public servants.
Bloomberg in a later report on Thursday said that MACC officials were also helping a group of businessmen to seize control over companies, citing internal documents and interviews with witnesses. Reuters has not independently verified the report.
“After the investigation is completed, it will be reported back to the Cabinet for any follow-up action. This is an effort to ensure the aspects of transparency and integrity of the investigation process,” Fahmi said.
Fahmi did not specify which allegations would be investigated.
Azam said earlier that he was willing to be investigated by a government committee amid calls for him to step down, adding that he had “nothing to hide” as all his financial and asset declarations have been made according to public service laws.
“I am confident that the truth will prevail through a fair and independent process,” he said in a statement.
The report prompted opposition lawmakers and civil society groups to renew demands for Azam’s resignation and call for major reforms to the anti-graft agency, including the removal of the prime minister’s power to appoint the MACC chief.
Azam’s trading activities faced similar scrutiny in 2022 over allegations that he owned millions of shares in two publicly listed companies in 2015 and 2016.
The securities regulator said at the time it was unable to determine whether he had broken the law.
Malaysia forms special committee to probe anti-corruption chief
https://arab.news/c9ntz
Malaysia forms special committee to probe anti-corruption chief
- Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki allegedly breached shareholding laws
- Report prompted opposition lawmakers and civil society groups to renew demands for his resignation
Europol warns Iran crisis raises threat of terror, extremism and cyberattacks
- Oorth said groups linked to Iran could seek to carry out “destabilising activities” within the EU
- “The level of terrorist threat and violent extremism in EU territory is considered high“
MADRID: The Middle East conflict will have “immediate repercussions” for European Union security with an increased threat of terrorism, serious and organized crime as well as violent extremism and cyberattacks, European police body Europol told Spanish news agency EFE on Thursday.
Europol spokesman Jan Op Gen Oorth said he expected to see more cyberattacks against European infrastructure and an increase in online fraud using increasingly sophisticated Artificial Intelligence and exploiting the flurry of information swirling about the conflict online, EFE reported.
Groups linked to Iran could seek to carry out “destabilising activities” within the EU, he added, referring to groups linked to the so-called Axis of Resistance, the network of anti-American and Israeli Shiite militias in countries including Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. These could include terrorist attacks, intimidation campaigns, terrorist financing and cybercrime.
“The level of terrorist threat and violent extremism in EU territory is considered high,” he told the news agency.
The terror threat could be heightened by individuals acting alone or small cells acting on their own initiative, he said.
“The rapid spread of polarizing content on the Internet can accelerate short-term radicalization processes among diaspora communities within the EU and other individuals,” he said.
Europol did not immediately return a Reuters request for comment on the reported statements.
Iran and Israel on Thursday were exchanging fire on a sixth day of war after Israel and the United States launched joint air strikes on Iran on the weekend. So far the attacks have killed more than 1,000 people including Iran’s Supreme Leader, prompted Iran to attack neighbors including Qatar and UAE along with energy shipments.
