Give new commissioner full cooperation: Abu Kassim

PUTRAJAYA: Outgoing Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed urged his officers to give their fullest support and cooperation to his successor who is consider as an outsider to the job.
"Please do give all your support like what you have given me to the new commisioner because without it, MACC will be hard to move forward," Abu Kassim said during a farewell party for him and his deputies earlier today.
The two outgoing deputies were deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali and deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Shukri Abdull.
The trios were given a grand send off by MACC officers after having serve the commission for more than three decades.
In his farewell speech, Abu Kassim thanked the government for their believe in the commission by appointing one of his deputies to lead a government department.
"Never before in the commission history that any MACC officers gets appointed to head a government department, even more a department that has such a high risk like the Immigration Department.
"This is definitely an achievement by the commission and recognition to MACC that the government wants someone who has a high skillset in integrity management, credibility and leadership. Congratulation once again to Mustafar for his appointment," Abu Kassim said.
In a statement, MACC said that Abu Kassim will end his contract as the anti-graft head effective Aug 1 while Mustafar will be transferred to the Immigration Department to assume the director-general position from Aug 1. Shukri on the other hand, will be attending a course in a local university before officially retiring in October.
Addressing hundreds of MACC officers, a relatively emotional Shukri urged his fellow colleagues to work without fear when investigating a case even if it involved high-level officials.
"Don't be afraid, just do your work even if it means being criticised by certain quarters because in the end, we face the real judge in the afterlife," he said while holding back his tears.
Before ending his speech, Shukri stressed that he has no ill-intention to topple any leaders or the government
It was announced by chief secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa in a statement that Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad has been appointed as the new MACC chief commissioner.
Prior to the appointment, Dzulkifli was the Attorney-General's Chambers National Revenue Recovery Enforcement Team chief.
Separately, Abu Kassim declined to comment anything on the police report lodged against him by Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun.
"I have appointed my lawyer to handle the case and I am asked not to say anything," he said.