Speaker rejects motion on Azam, PM mum despite nudging from MPs
Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has rejected emergency motions submitted by two MPs to debate about the shareholding controversy involving MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki during the parliamentary special sitting today.
Azhar said that unlike an ordinary sitting, the agenda of the special sitting is at the absolute discretion of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has rejected emergency motions submitted by two MPs to debate about the shareholding controversy involving MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki during the parliamentary special sitting today.
Azhar said that unlike an ordinary sitting, the agenda of the special sitting is at the absolute discretion of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"The special sitting was called by the prime minister, and the agenda is under his absolute power and he has arranged it as such.
"Therefore, I do not have the power to accept the motions... To date, I have not received any notice from the prime minister about the motions (on MACC), and I take it that it won't be part of today's agenda," the speaker said.
The agenda of the special sitting today is to debate last month's flash floods that had devastated parts of the country.
However, Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai-Harapan) and Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan-Harapan) have submitted emergency motions requesting that the sitting also debate about the ongoing controversy involving the MACC chief.
Acknowledging the rejection, Salahuddin suggested that there was no harm in allocating an additional one hour to debate the MACC issue as the prime minister was already present in the House and could provide clarification.
"The prime minister should say something because he has the power," Salahuddin said.
However, Ismail Sabri did not respond to Salahuddin.
"Yang amat berhormat (Ismail Sabri) does not intend to say anything," Azhar said.
M Kualasegaran (Ipoh Barat-Harapan) said there was no rule against stopping the special sitting from also debating the MACC issue.
He then pressed Ismail Sabri to allow the issue to be debated.
"The speaker does not need to reply, let the prime minister reply," he said.
However, Ismail Sabri still did not respond, and Azhar maintained that he had already made a ruling on the issue.
Ismail Sabri then proceeded to commence his speech on the flash floods and made no mention of the MACC controversy.
Azam came under the spotlight over his ownership of 1,930,000 shares in Gets Global Berhad (previously KBES Berhad) on April 30, 2015, worth around RM772,000 at the time.
His shareholding in Gets Global Berhad went down to 1,029,500 as of March 31, 2016, worth around RM340,000 at the time.
He also held 2,156,000 warrants in Excel Force MSC Berhad in March 2016.
The share ownership in 2015 and 2016 had raised questions on whether it was commensurate with his income as a public servant and conflict of interest concerns.
Azam claimed the shares were not his but purchased by his brother in his name and that they were subsequently transferred to his brother.
