MACC chief: Give us time to finish probing high-profile cases

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed has assured the public of transpa­rency in high-profile cases that MACC is investigating.

“We will keep you updated. I know the public wants us to be more transparent. That is important as they want to know what we are doing,” he said after chairing a meeting of MACC directors at its academy yesterday.

“But at the same time, allow us some time to complete the investigations,” he said.

On Monday, Abu Kassim announced that he was ending his medical leave early to re­­turn to work yesterday as he had “unfinished business” to attend to.

Abu Kassim, who went on leave on Aug 7, recently underwent surgery for his back. His medical leave was to continue until Oct 16.

Also on Monday, outgoing MACC deputy chief commissioner (management and professionalism) Datuk Seri Zakaria Jaafar said the commission was conducting a probe involving the “most powerful person in the country”.

Clocking out: Zakaria (centre) attending a ‘Beat The Retreat’ ceremony held in his honour at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy in Kuala Lumpur.

It is believed that the unnamed person was linked to funds of SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of state-owned investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) but now a company under the Finance Ministry.

Zakaria added that the investigation was the biggest challenge the commission had faced in his career and the “biggest investigation since 1967”.

He also likened Malaysia to a ship in which a person had drilled a hole just to quench his own thirst.

“What will happen if we do not stop this person? The whole ship could sink. We have to plug the hole and stop the person,” he said.

MACC is trying to get statements from three key witnesses who are believed to be overseas. One of them is 1MDB’s former chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, also a director of SRC International.

Zakaria also urged Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali to revive the special task force probing 1MDB, although Mohamed Apandi had said last week that the task force had never been dissolved or disbanded.

The task force comprises MACC, the police, Bank Negara and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.