Outrage as Azam Baki declares 'no case' against Farhash over Sabah mining deal

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki has sparked public outrage with his sudden announcement today that former PKR politician turned multi-millionaire Farhash Wafa Salvador has been cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with an approval given to his company to explore minerals in a massive forest reserve in Sabah.

Social media was flooded with condemnations of Azam, many reminding that the MACC chief's tenure was extended three times by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Leading the charge is Muda acting president Amira Aisya, who questioned the speed with which the investigation was completed, while at the same time dragging its foot on many other corruption cases.

"How quickly the investigation was completed. What documents were scrutinised? There are many cases that have been reported to MACC, such as the Sabah mining licence issue. Despite clear evidence, only two people were charged," she said, referring to damning videos released by whistleblower Albert Tei which showed Sabah ruling politicians discussing bribes related to mining licences.

"Another example: the police report I filed regarding Albert Tei's claim that he was warned by an MACC officer. So far, Azam Baki has not conducted an internal probe to identify the officer. If all these cases are taking so long, how come the Farhash case was closed so quickly?"

In a separate statement, Muda accused Azam of acting at the behest of Anwar and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"People know why the MACC chief commissioner's contract was extended. It's not about performance, it's about survival," Muda said.

The party questioned how an investigation involving a concession for an area three times the size of Kuala Lumpur could be completed so quickly.

"It is only fair for people to ask: What does the prime minister have to say about this? Didn't Farhash once work closely with Anwar Ibrahim?"

Azam was at the centre of a Bloomberg report in September last year that among others quoted sources as saying that Anwar had instructed Azam not to investigate Farhash over the controversial purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.

The report quoted the same source as saying that Azam was instructed to pursue Anwar's enemies, namely Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the late Daim Zainuddin.

A subsequent police report filed by Daim's widow Na'imah Khalid, to investigate Anwar for power abuse, was declared "no further action".

At a press conference today, Azam said the deputy public prosecutor found no criminal case could be brought against any party in the case involving the application for a mineral exploration licence by a company controlled by Farhash.

"Ultimately, the DPP decided that no criminal case could be made against any party, whether under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, the Penal Code, or any other law," Azam said.

In July, MalaysiaNow revealed documents and audio recordings showing how Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, during a meeting of the state's mineral agency which he chairs, approved Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd's application for a mining exploration licence covering 70.000 hectares in the Kalabakan and Gunung Rara forest reserves near the Kalimantan border - an area almost three times the size of Kuala Lumpur.

Bumi Suria is a company controlled by Farhash and another individual. The approval came on May 21 last year, just two weeks after Farhash and Aminuddin Mustapha took control of the company.

Following the report, MalaysiaNow was questioned by police based on a police report lodged by Farhash, a move slammed as intimidation of the media by PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

Farhash has also filed a RM10 million defamation suit against MalaysiaNow. Last week, he failed to get an injunction to bar the portal from further reporting on the issue.

On Sept 4, the Shah Alam Hight Court said it viewed the portal's defence as "not obviously untrue", and as such there was no necessity for an interim injunction.

Social media reactions

Meanwhile, Azam's announcement was met with condemnation on social media.

"Azam Baki has already told you. Period! Azam Baki is the MACC chief whose contract was extended by the Madani government," said X user BrotherBatu Return.

"We have never heard MACC ever announcing that it is investigating Farhash over the scandal in Sabah. But suddenly the MACC says the investigation against Farhash has been closed," said influencer and political commentator Papa Berry.

"You never announced any investigation, yet now you suddenly close the investigation? How can we expect the authorities to investigate Farhash in any case?" 

X user icomplain wrote: "Good boy Azam Baki," with an emoji of a bone.

"He needs to please the boss and keep his job!" wrote Yang Gor Condor Returns.