PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) achieved significant success under his helm, said its former chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull.
He said that between May 2018 and May 2019 when he led the MACC, the commission arrested nearly 1,300 people, among them 30 VVIP politicians or ‘big fish’, 13 top management officers, 30 chief executive officers (CEOs) of government-linked companies (GLCs) and private firms, and 137 professionals.
Mohd Shukri said Malaysia was now at the same level as other countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong in the fight against corruption.
In that one-year period, he said Malaysia received international recognition when the MACC was awarded the ‘The Most Emerging Enforcer for 2018’ in the fight against corruption and power abuse, by the Washington-based Global Investigation Review (GIR).
“Numerous foreign delegations came to study with us. Every month there were foreign agencies coming to learn from us. We were often called by international bodies to give talks at international seminars,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
Mohd Shukri said the recognition proved that MACC had reached a higher standard.
Asked whether the MACC’s investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and SRC International cases would result in the imprisonment of the individuals involved, Mohd Shukri said the complete investigations were submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to be looked at, in terms of evidence, statements and witnesses.
“Based on what’s available, it (Attorney-General’s Chambers) decided to press charges. For me, when a decision is made to press charges, it means that the Public Prosecutor (PP) is convinced that there is solid evidence to be presented to court. If the PP is not convinced, why bring it to court then. The MACC’s task is to investigate and it is for the PP to decide (to bring it to court),” he said.
Mohd Shukri also pointed out that throughout his service at the MACC, he never gave orders to close any files and all the cases that had been filed were investigated in accordance with the law.
He said he brooked no interference as the MACC’s duty is to investigate until completion.
“The question whether to press charges or otherwise, it is the AGC’s call. Nobody can interfere with the MACC’s job,” he said.
He also expressed regret that there were allegations that he was ordered to leave the MACC for allegedly closing several high-profile cases involving, among others, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said that as far as he could remember, while heading the MACC, there was no file opened against Hishammuddin.
In the NFC Corp Sdn Bhd’s case involving Shahrizat, she was investigated by the police while Ahmad Zahid was already charged in court, he said.
On allegations that there was dissatisfaction with him for allegedly releasing the passport of former Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Apandi Ali, Mohd Shukri said the move had nothing to do with him.
“It was released by the Immigration Department, Apandi applied to the court (for release of his passport), so what has it got to do with the MACC and me?” he asked.
Mohd Shukri said he was also accused of receiving bribes from political party leaders and described the accusations as baseless.
“I appeal to them to let me leave the MACC in peace. I do not want any more defamatory statements. Let me be with my family safely because I have done my level best for the MACC and the country,” he said.
Asked whether he felt stressed while serving in the MACC, Mohd Shukri said this was normal for MACC staff.
“When I was the chief, my bp (blood pressure) was very high, at 160-170 and sometimes reached up to 190.
“When I retired (as Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) in 2016), my bp was at 120/80…like young man. When I returned to work my bp shot up to 160, so it is normal for the chief commissioner as the stress level is very high,” he said.
Mohd Shukri 58, retired as MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) on July 31, 2016 before returning as Chief Commissioner in May 2018 for a two-year contract term.
He, however, decided to shorten his contract which was supposed to end on May 17, 2020.
Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Beebi Koya was appointed as the new Chief Commissioner of MACC effective June 1, after Mohd Shukri decided to shorten his contract. – Bernama
