POLICE have obtained a court order banning any gathering at Dataran Merdeka, Sogo shopping complex and Masjid Jamek ahead of the #TangkapAzamBaki protest tomorrow.

Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the court order was received yesterday and it would be in force for seven days beginning tomorrow.

“We advise the public against taking part in any activity that goes against the law. We will not compromise with anyone who will organises any kind of protest,” he said in a media conference today.

The #TangkapAzamBaki rally is scheduled for 11am tomorrow, organised by civil society groups and the youth wings of several opposition parties, following the scandal surrounding Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Azam Baki.

Noor Delhan said more than 1,010 police officers will be deployed tomorrow, adding that traffic from Jalan Kuching, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Hang Tuah, Jalan Imbi, and Jalan Sultan Ismail will also be redirected from 7am.

Noor Delhan also said the following stations will be closed:

LRT: Pudu, Hang Tuah, Masjid Jamek, Plaza Rakyat, Bandaraya, Sultan Sulaiman, Kampung Baru, Dang Wangi, Pasar Seni.

MRT: Bukit Bintang, Merdeka, Pasar Seni.

Monorail: Medan Tuanku, Bukit Nanas, Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, Imbi, Hang Tuah, Maharajalela, Tun Sambanthan, KL Sentral

KTM: Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara.

He said, as of this morning, the police had not received any notice of any gathering from any individuals or groups.

Meanwhile, Azam is at the centre of a financial scandal, following revelations he bought 2.15 million shares in Excel Force MSC Bhd in 2015, as well as the 1.93 million shares in Gets Global Bhd the same year and 1.02 million shares the following year. At the time, Azam was the MACC’s director of investigations.

At a press conference on January 5, Azam said the shares were bought by his brother Nasir using his (Azam’s) trading account, and were later transferred to the brother, leaving him with no pecuniary interest.

He also said he informed his superiors at the time about the purchase and they raised no concerns.

Based on his explanation, MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang had previously “cleared” the chief commissioner of any wrongdoing, despite mounting calls for an independent, external investigation.

The following day, the SC said it would be questioning Azam over potential breach of section 25(4) of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991, which stipulates that every securities account opened with a central depository must be in the name of the beneficial owner of the deposited securities or an authorised nominee.

Following the probe, the SC said its investigations suggested that Azam did not violate Section 25(4) because he was in full control of his trading accounts. – January 21, 2022.