Let King decide my fate as advisory board chairman, says Abu Zahar

PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang (pic) will leave it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to decide on his position as the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman.

He said that he has carried out the responsibility that was entrusted to him to the best of his ability.

“I have done my job without taking any sides.

“If, as a result, the statement that I had made earlier had brought down the good name of the MACC, which was never my intention, I will leave it to the King and government to decide on my position as the advisory board chairman.

“I will abide by any decision,” said Abu Zahar on Tuesday (Jan 11).

The board chairman came under criticism for his statement regarding Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki over the controversial shares issue.

Allegations had surfaced that Azam owned a substantial amount of shares in Gets Global Bhd as well as Excel Force MSC Bhd between 2015 and 2016 when he was the MACC director of investigations.

Abu Zahar had said that following the board’s meeting with Azam on Nov 24 last year, the members were of the opinion the chief commissioner did not have any pecuniary interest in the said shares.

He had said that the board was satisfied with the explanation given and found no criminal conduct or conflict of interest on Azam’s part on this matter.

However, on Jan 8, six advisory board members had distanced themselves from the statement made by Abu Zahar over Azam’s purchase of shares.

They were not satisfied with the explanations given by Azam despite Abu Zahar saying otherwise during the press conference on Jan 5.

The six are Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar, Datuk Dr Hamzah Kassim, Datuk David Chua Kok Te and Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff.