Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam is being investigated into whether he broke any laws over his ownership of shares in public-listed companies and for allowing his share trading account to be used by his brother

Muhyiddin’s former principal private secretary Marzuki Mohamad said Azam was appointed to the post by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister.

He said the prime minister would first receive recommendations from the chief secretary to the government or other relevant parties, as provided for under the law.

He said the recommendation is made in the form of a proposal paper outlining the officer’s qualifications and the justification for his appointment. The officer is also subjected to asset declarations as well as security and integrity screenings.

“Azam was the MACC deputy chief commissioner before he was appointed the chief commissioner,” said Marzuki.

“I believe that as a senior government official currently in service, he is subject to all these conditions and processes before and after the appointment is made.

“So, there is no question as to whether the eighth prime minister (Muhyiddin) conducted a background check before making the appointment.

“The appointment process was in accordance with established rules and procedures,” Marzuki said in a Facebook post.

Marzuki was responding to special adviser (law and human rights) to the prime minister Azalina Othman Said, who yesterday asked whether Muhyiddin had vetted Azam properly before appointing him to helm MACC.

Pointing out that Azam was appointed by Muhyiddin when he was prime minister, the Pengerang MP said she assumed that a thorough due diligence was conducted by the relevant authorities prior to Azam’s appointment.