PUTRAJAYA - Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohammed said he was not pressured to leave the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and had in fact made three requests to have his contract terminated prematurely.
The outgoing chief commissioner said he has been asked to serve as a board member and a visiting expert at the Austria-based International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).
“I have said before that I would never be pressured to step down. But this decision is my own.
“I have an opportunity to represent the country at an international level by serving at the IACA.
“My appointment is a recognition of the work MACC had done. This is a golden opportunity that I could not ignore,” Abu Kassim told reporters at the MACC headquarters here yesterday.
Abu Kassim’s contract as chief commissioner was supposed to end on Dec 4, 2018, but the date was brought forward to Aug 1 this year upon his request.
“I have made three requests to terminate my contract ahead of time.
“Twice it was rejected by the Government.
“Only on the third request I was successful,” he said.
He will, however, remain in the Malaysian civil service until his mandatory retirement in 2020.
Abu Kassim will also be serving as a lecturer, researcher and a consultant at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) after stepping down from MACC.
He was mum on who would be his successor.
“As stated in our MACC Act, the chief commissioner is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, upon the advice of the Prime Minister. Whoever is deemed the best choice will be appointed,” he said.
Aked if he had any advice to his successor, he replied: “Do your work properly!”
Abu Kassim’s deputy, Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, will also be leaving his post this year following his mandatory retirement this October.
“Naturally, like most civil servants, he (Mohd Shukri) will be away on a course for a few months before he retires in October,” Abu Kassim explained.
On his six-year tenure as chief commissioner, Abu Kassim said the MACC had undergone many changes and achieved international acclaim during that time.
“Firstly, I would like to thank the Government for allowing me to serve as chief commissioner for over six years. I am probably one of the longest serving as most chief commissioners serve only three to four years.
“There have been many small as well as high-profile cases throughout my time, and I must say I have been satisfied with how all of them have been handled,” he said.
Abu Kassim was sworn in as MACC chief commissioner on Jan 1, 2010. - ANN
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