PUTRAJAYA: The tenure of Tan Sri Azam Baki as head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was extended despite issues because he has carried out his duties satisfactorily, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it was the same with Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.
“I gave full authority and freedom to the MACC chief as well as the Attorney General to carry out their duties.
“As far as I see, they have been doing their job satisfactorily,” he said in reply to a question on why Azam’s contract had been extended.
Azam, added Anwar, had taken action without fear or “taking sides”.
“Never before in history have the offices of ministers been raided (while) compromises among certain officers been identified and action taken.
“On that basis, we continue his service,” he said.
Azam, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on May 12, had his service extended for another year.
The announcement of his reappointment raised eyebrows following the earlier shares issue controversy involving Azam, as well as the MACC’s probe against SRC International trial judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali over alleged conflict of interest and misconduct.
Anwar had earlier told the Dewan Rakyat that while Azam was appointed during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, he decided to retain the MACC chief in his post to break the convention of a change of guard in the agency following the appointment of a new prime minister.
Idrus’ service as the Attorney General was extended for six months effective March 6.
