Shukri: I’ve completed my mission

PUTRAJAYA: When Datuk Seri Shukri Abdull (pic) came in to lead the anti-graft agency last year, it was to, among others, continue with investigations into the 1MDB and SRC International scandals.

The months ahead after his appointment on May 17, 2018 saw a slew of people being called for questioning, arrests and followed by court charges.

In the one year when he headed the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, the agency had arrested 30 high-profile politicians, nabbed 13 senior government officials, 20 chief executive officers and 132 individuals holding various management and professional posts.

A good majority of these arrests, said Shukri, was over 1MDB and SRC International as well as related cases.

“As for the seizure of property and cash, the MACC had confiscated goods and money valued at RM3bil which we suspect came from corruption and power abuse,” he said in an interview with The Star.

With these cases now in court and the individuals responsible facing trial, the country’s top graft buster feels he has accomplished his mission.

“I believe that the job that I was tasked to take on has been completed. We have completed investigations into 1MDB and SRC Interna­tional and the cases are now in court. So are other cases related to the two scandals.

“I have done my job and I feel that it is time for me to go. That is why I have asked for my contract to be shortened, because my mission has been accomplished and nothing else,” he said.

Shukri was just about to board the plane to Alor Setar when contacted. He will be spending Hari Raya Aidilfitri with his family.

Earlier in the day, he had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara.

It is understood that the King had wanted to find out from Shukri himself why he wanted to have his tenure shortened before consenting to the request.

Shukri, 59, made a stunning comeback last year after opting for early retirement in August 2016. He retired while holding the position of deputy chief commissioner, along with his former boss Tan Sri Abu Kassim at the height of the 1MDB scandal.

Shukri returned under a two-year contract which was supposed to be until 2020.

In his tell-all interview shortly after his appointment, a tearful Shukri had, among others, said that the MACC was ready to take the case to court when former attorney general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was removed from office on July 27, 2015.

He had also revealed that he went to the United States because he had been warned that “he could be next” and that he would be charged with conspiracy to bring down the government.

Reiterating that he is going on his own free will, the seasoned graft buster, who had served since 1984, said that he had submitted the request to leave earlier.

“I submitted my request in March and just got the response,” he said.

Shukri said he is leaving when “things at the organisation are good and on the right track”, adding that there is better camaraderie among officers who are now more united in fighting graft.

The public too, are getting better at playing their part in reporting crimes of corruption and power abuse, he observed.

Last year, the MACC was awarded “The Most Emerging Enforcement for 2018” by the Global Investigation Review, the highest recognition received by the commission in the five decades since its establishment.

Another feather in the cap for the agency is the high percentage of conviction rate for corruption and power abuse cases at 91% last year.

On the appointment of Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya as his successor, Shukri called on MACC officers and the public to extend their cooperation to the new chief so that she can continue to “fight the good fight”.

Latheefa, who accepted her appointment letter from Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar, later went to the MACC headquarters and clocked in at 3.32pm.