Speaker denies DAP MP's motion to discuss Azam's shares scandal
Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Published: Feb 23, 2026 3:37 PM
Updated: 7:49 PM
PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has rejected a government MP’s bid to have Parliament discuss MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s share ownership in two publicly listed companies.
Johari said he had decided to decline the motion submitted by Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan-Bukit Gelugor) as the government has since established a special committee to probe the matter.
“Since there is already a committee and investigations are ongoing, I will have to reject the motion,” the speaker said in the lower house today in response to the DAP MP’s queries on the status of his motion.
Replying to Johari’s rejection, Ramkarpal argued that lawmakers’ discussions on matters implicating Azam could run concurrently with the committee’s ongoing probes.
“In my view, even though there is a committee investigating (the matter), it is just a committee - it does not prevent this house from discussing the issue, which has made headlines and calls for an urgent debate,” he said.
Despite the former deputy law minister’s insistence on the matter, Johari affirmed that the committee should be given “space” to conduct its investigations.
He noted, however, that he might allow debates on the issue once the committee has released its findings.
Published: Feb 23, 2026 3:37 PM
Updated: 7:49 PM
PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has rejected a government MP’s bid to have Parliament discuss MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s share ownership in two publicly listed companies.
Johari said he had decided to decline the motion submitted by Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan-Bukit Gelugor) as the government has since established a special committee to probe the matter.
“Since there is already a committee and investigations are ongoing, I will have to reject the motion,” the speaker said in the lower house today in response to the DAP MP’s queries on the status of his motion.
Replying to Johari’s rejection, Ramkarpal argued that lawmakers’ discussions on matters implicating Azam could run concurrently with the committee’s ongoing probes.
“In my view, even though there is a committee investigating (the matter), it is just a committee - it does not prevent this house from discussing the issue, which has made headlines and calls for an urgent debate,” he said.
Despite the former deputy law minister’s insistence on the matter, Johari affirmed that the committee should be given “space” to conduct its investigations.
He noted, however, that he might allow debates on the issue once the committee has released its findings.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh
Ramkarpal submitted the motion to Johari’s office on Feb 12, amid mounting pressure on the government to investigate Azam, who previously held considerable shares in financial services company Velocity Capital Partner Berhad and Awanbiru Technology Berhad.
While it is not known how much Azam paid for the shares, the lowest Velocity Capital shares traded last year were RM0.015 per unit, meaning the MACC chief’s holdings could have been worth RM265,500 - at the minimum.
Records from the Companies Commission of Malaysia showed that, as of Jan 13, Azam held slightly over 4.52 million shares in Awanbiru, representing a 1.08 percent stake.
The shares were valued at RM0.305 each on Jan 13, putting Azam’s stake at almost RM1.38 million at that time.
Ramkarpal submitted the motion to Johari’s office on Feb 12, amid mounting pressure on the government to investigate Azam, who previously held considerable shares in financial services company Velocity Capital Partner Berhad and Awanbiru Technology Berhad.
While it is not known how much Azam paid for the shares, the lowest Velocity Capital shares traded last year were RM0.015 per unit, meaning the MACC chief’s holdings could have been worth RM265,500 - at the minimum.
Records from the Companies Commission of Malaysia showed that, as of Jan 13, Azam held slightly over 4.52 million shares in Awanbiru, representing a 1.08 percent stake.
The shares were valued at RM0.305 each on Jan 13, putting Azam’s stake at almost RM1.38 million at that time.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki
Following reports on the matter by Malaysiakini and Bloomberg, Azam claimed he had declared his shareholdings with the Public Service Department.
Without addressing his non-compliance with the RM100,000-per-company limit for civil servants, he also said he had disposed of his portfolio by July last year, although he did not specify the exact date of disposal.
Three-member committee
The special committee tasked with probing the allegations against Azam is led by Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar alongside Public Service Department director-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican.
Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar’s previous statement indicated that the committee’s scope of investigation is only on the issue of Azam’s shareholding.
This was later backed by Dusuki, who said the committee’s probe does not involve any criminal elements.
Following reports on the matter by Malaysiakini and Bloomberg, Azam claimed he had declared his shareholdings with the Public Service Department.
Without addressing his non-compliance with the RM100,000-per-company limit for civil servants, he also said he had disposed of his portfolio by July last year, although he did not specify the exact date of disposal.
Three-member committee
The special committee tasked with probing the allegations against Azam is led by Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar alongside Public Service Department director-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican.
Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar’s previous statement indicated that the committee’s scope of investigation is only on the issue of Azam’s shareholding.
This was later backed by Dusuki, who said the committee’s probe does not involve any criminal elements.
Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar
This is despite another allegation that surfaced claiming that MACC officers had colluded with private individuals to strong-arm business rivals and stage corporate takeovers.
Yesterday, Shamsul said the committee had summoned the top anti-graft officer and would speak with other witnesses to complete its investigation.
"The outcome of the investigation and recommendations for any further action will be forwarded to the relevant authorities, including in cases where it is found that there is a violation of law or rules," he added in a statement.
This is despite another allegation that surfaced claiming that MACC officers had colluded with private individuals to strong-arm business rivals and stage corporate takeovers.
Yesterday, Shamsul said the committee had summoned the top anti-graft officer and would speak with other witnesses to complete its investigation.
"The outcome of the investigation and recommendations for any further action will be forwarded to the relevant authorities, including in cases where it is found that there is a violation of law or rules," he added in a statement.
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