KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said his decision to quit as Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner should not surprise to anyone as he has been talking about it for some time.
“My decision to resign is neither a surprise or breaking news as I have been talking about it for the past few months,” he said.
Shukri, who returned as the top gun of the anti-graft agency after Pakatan Harapan took control of Putrajaya following the 14th General Election (GE14) in May last year, said this when contacted by the New Straits Times today (June 4).
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that human rights lawyer Latheefa Koya had been appointed as MACC chief commissioner effective June 1.
Her appointment comes after Shukri resigned even though his contract is only due to end on May 17, 2020.
The PMO, which thanked Shukri for his services, said the latter’s resignation had been approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Latheefa will helm the position of chief commissioner for two years.
“This appointment is a step towards reforming government institutions,” the PMO statement read.
Shukri served at the MACC for 22 years before opting for early retirement on July 31, 2016 as the deputy chief commissioner (operations).
He was quoted as saying that his return to MACC on May 22, 2018 was due to some “unfinished business”.
When he was first appointed in 2018, Shukri recalled his time of running away from Malaysian authorities to the United States after his former chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed decided to indict former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the RM2.6 billion that was found in his personal bank accounts.
Shukri left for Washington on July 31, 2015 to present the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case to the US authorities.
Speaking to NST today, Shukri said the reason he took up the position as MACC chief in May last year was to complete his unfinished business, namely on 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd investigations.
SRC International was set up purportedly to carry out 1MDB corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. However, it was later established that RM42 million of its funds had been channelled to Najib’s personal accounts.
“The two cases have now gone to court and I feel it's time I minta diri dulu (excuse myself).
"I have done my job and managed to unite all the MACC officers. We have not only managed to bring 1MDB and SRC to court but also other major cases in the past one year," he said.
Shukri wished Latheefa all the best and hoped the public would give their full support to her.
He also denied any intervention by anyone or that he was pressured while he was MACC chief.
"There was no intervention.
"I have my principles and nobody can interfere with my investigation," he said.
Shukri said his past experience - including the time when he was threatened with the sack, forced into early retirement and even receiving a live bullet - as evidence that he does not give way to anyone regardless of their position.