Latest news with #EdmundGomez
Free Malaysia Today
11-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Bouquets and brickbats for financial irregularities task force
Edmund Terence Gomez (left) believes it can help to curb corruption in government-linked companies (GLCs), but social activist Johan Ariffin Samad (right)sees it as just another layer of bureaucracy. PETALING JAYA : The decision to set up a special task force to address financial irregularities in the government has drawn both praise and criticism. Anti-corruption advocate Edmund Terence Gomez believes it can help to curb corruption in government-linked companies (GLCs), but social activist Johan Ariffin Samad sees it as just another layer of bureaucracy in an already-established system of rules and regulations. Gomez, a professor emeritus at Universiti Malaya, noted that some GLCs had previously been embroiled in financial scandals. 'The task force will have a major role to play if it is to undertake an in-depth review of such irregularities,' he told FMT. 'This is because some institutions within the GLC ecosystem, which includes government-linked investment companies (GLICs), statutory bodies as well as listed and unlisted companies, have also been implicated in financial scandals,' he said. For a start, he said, the task force could oversee initiatives such as GEAR-uP, the plan that will see six GLICs invest RM120 billion in 'high growth, high value' industries over five years to stimulate domestic economic growth. 'Given how GLIC funds have allegedly been abused, it is worrying that such a huge sum of public funds will be placed in these institutions for domestic investment,' he added. On June 3, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would be setting up a special task force to address financial irregularities, saying that this was part of efforts to strengthen the role of the National Audit Department. The initiative will be realised through an amendment to the Audit Act 1957. Anwar said the new task force would ensure that follow-up actions are more holistic, targeted and have high impact. This, he said, was in keeping with the principles of accountability, transparency, and integrity. Last month, auditor-general Wan Suraya Wan Radzi said the amendments to the Audit Act, which came into force last year, empower the department to conduct audits on 1,856 GLCs. She was quoted as saying the amendment expands the department's scope, thereby strengthening the government's oversight of governance and financial management within GLCs. The opposing view Johan, a member of the G25 group of prominent former civil servants, argued that a system to deal with financial irregularities is already in place. 'You already have the audit department, and you have the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Where does this task force fit in? 'Basically, the auditor exposes the weakness in the system, and MACC is supposed to catch the culprits who broke the system or stole something from the system,' he told FMT. 'To me, it's just a waste of time. You're just creating another (layer to the) bureaucratic system,' he added. Johan, who is commonly known as Joe Samad, said the Audit-General's Reports, which are published three times a year, should be tabled for debate in Parliament. 'Then it is the task of the Public Accounts Committee to ensure that (any irregularity) is dealt with,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Anti-graft activist questions Azam's contract extension
Edmund Terence Gomez quit an MACC panel in 2021 after it failed to discuss reports implicating the anti-graft agency's top leaders. KUALA LUMPUR : Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism chairman Edmund Terence Gomez has voiced concern over Azam Baki's reappointment as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner, citing previous claims of a conflict of interest involving Azam's alleged ownership of corporate stock. Speaking at the launch of his book, 'Misgovernance: Grand Corruption In Malaysia' here today, Gomez said Azam had refused to attend a parliamentary select committee (PSC) meeting to question him over his share dealings in January 2022. Gomez, who quit an MACC panel in 2021 after it failed to discuss reports implicating the anti-graft agency's top leaders, also spoke of a growing public discourse on selective prosecution, warning that such perceptions would undermine trust in MACC. 'I didn't say it. It's coming from others. But the very fact that these allegations are being made is a red flag,' he said. 'If MACC were truly independent, there wouldn't be any question of selective prosecution. 'If you want to do away with this talk of selective prosecution, give us an MACC chief who is known to be independent … and is selected very carefully through an open and transparent process.' Last Friday, Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim had consented to Azam's reappointment for a one-year term effective May 13. The contract of Azam, who took office in March 2020, was previously extended twice. He was given a one-year extension on May 10, 2023, and another one-year extension last year. Azam, who was then deputy chief commissioner, took the top job in 2020 following the resignation of Latheefa Koya after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. In late 2021, Azam made headlines following allegations that he owned shares and warrants. He denied any wrongdoing, although several watchdog groups and PH leaders called for an investigation. In January 2022, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board cleared Azam of any wrongdoing over his purchase of corporate shares after Azam explained that his share account was used by his brother, Nasir, to purchase shares in which he (Azam) had no pecuniary interest.
