'More questions than answers' - Gomez responds to MACC's 'tell-all' presser

Political economy professor Edmund Terence Gomez said the MACC's 'tell-all' presser yesterday to explain the controversy surrounding MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki has raised more questions than answers.

Gomez last month resigned from the MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel.

He accused the panel of failing to act on conflict of interest allegations against Azam, particularly over his ownership of millions of shares in two public-listed companies.

MACC’s Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang yesterday held a special press conference to explain the issue and rebut Gomez (above).

However, Abu Zahar's explanation that the shares were purchased in Azam's name by his brother has attracted the attention of the Securities Commission.

This is because it was a potential violation of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991.

Gomez said the fiasco has not only highlighted issues with the MACC's administration but also its oversight committees which are supposed to keep the graft buster accountable but have instead resorted to exonerating the MACC chief commissioner.

The following is Gomez's full response to the MACC's special press conference yesterday and subsequent fallout...