Azam's contract extension: Azalina dodges query, cites Parliament rules
Published: Dec 2, 2025 10:58 AM
Updated: 2:50 PM
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said has declined to address the potential extension of MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s service contract.
In a parliamentary written reply yesterday, Azalina cited a Standing Order in declining to answer a related question from PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.
“In line with Standing Order 23(1)(h), questions regarding proposals or plans that are of a speculative nature are not suitable for specific answers as they involve matters that ‘have not yet become a problem’ or are of a ‘merely speculative’ nature,” the minister said.
Azalina (above) added that decisions on any future contract extensions will be made based on performance evaluations, agency needs, and appropriate considerations at a suitable time.
The government, she assured, is committed to ensuring that MACC operates efficiently, and will make decisions based on the interests of the nation and the rakyat “when the time comes”.
The Standing Order Azalina cited stipulates that a question shall not be asked for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion, the solution of an abstract legal case or the answer to a hypothetical proposition.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki
Rafizi had requested Putrajaya to state whether the prime minister intends to extend the service contract for the MACC chief commissioner for the fourth time.
The former economy minister also cited criticism against Azam, particularly those previously aired by Nurul Izzah Anwar in the run-up to the PKR party election, during which she unseated Rafizi as the party’s deputy president.
At the time, Nurul Izzah had labelled the extension given to Azam as “unwelcome”, stressing that PKR needs to “stand for reforms”.
She had also vowed to confront her father, PKR president and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, on the matter if elected to the party’s deputy president post.
Nurul Izzah’s remarks came after Azam, who has been a controversial leader for the anti-graft body, was granted his third extension as the MACC chief under Anwar’s leadership.
Rafizi had requested Putrajaya to state whether the prime minister intends to extend the service contract for the MACC chief commissioner for the fourth time.
The former economy minister also cited criticism against Azam, particularly those previously aired by Nurul Izzah Anwar in the run-up to the PKR party election, during which she unseated Rafizi as the party’s deputy president.
At the time, Nurul Izzah had labelled the extension given to Azam as “unwelcome”, stressing that PKR needs to “stand for reforms”.
She had also vowed to confront her father, PKR president and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, on the matter if elected to the party’s deputy president post.
Nurul Izzah’s remarks came after Azam, who has been a controversial leader for the anti-graft body, was granted his third extension as the MACC chief under Anwar’s leadership.
PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar
Among the grouses against Azam is the perception that the graft busters dragged their feet in investigating the Sabah mining licence corruption scandal, in which multiple assemblypersons and state government leaders were implicated.
Strengthening PSSCs
In a separate parliamentary written response, Azalina said the allocation for all 10 parliamentary special select committees (PSSCs) remains at RM5 million.
“In an effort to strengthen the role of the PSSCs of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat, out of the nearly RM220 million allocated to Parliament in Budget 2026, RM5 million has been specifically allocated to ensure that the committees have sufficient resources to carry out their functions effectively,” she added.
She was responding to a query from PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen, who had earlier urged the government to increase the proposed RM500,000 allocation for each PSSC.
Wong, as head of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Affairs and Security, on Oct 23, proposed RM2 million for each PSSC.
Arguing that it is difficult for PSSCs to execute their jobs if they do not receive an adequate budget, Wong also reminded Anwar that former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had previously allocated RM1 million for each PSSC.
Among the grouses against Azam is the perception that the graft busters dragged their feet in investigating the Sabah mining licence corruption scandal, in which multiple assemblypersons and state government leaders were implicated.
Strengthening PSSCs
In a separate parliamentary written response, Azalina said the allocation for all 10 parliamentary special select committees (PSSCs) remains at RM5 million.
“In an effort to strengthen the role of the PSSCs of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat, out of the nearly RM220 million allocated to Parliament in Budget 2026, RM5 million has been specifically allocated to ensure that the committees have sufficient resources to carry out their functions effectively,” she added.
She was responding to a query from PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen, who had earlier urged the government to increase the proposed RM500,000 allocation for each PSSC.
Wong, as head of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Affairs and Security, on Oct 23, proposed RM2 million for each PSSC.
Arguing that it is difficult for PSSCs to execute their jobs if they do not receive an adequate budget, Wong also reminded Anwar that former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had previously allocated RM1 million for each PSSC.
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