Malaysia's top anti-graft commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed today reiterated he would not resign due to pressure from anyone other than for health reasons, following a report that he might be replaced.
In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said its chief commissioner would decide for himself if he his health required him to step down.
His statement follows The Malaysian Insider's report today that he might be replaced for health reasons, just after handing over investigation papers on the RM2.6 billion donation to the prime minister and Finance Ministry's SRC International Sdn Bhd.
“Tan Sri Abu Kassim is holding to his stand that he will not resign due to pressure by any quarter, other than his own decision because of health reasons.
“For now, there is no pressure by any quarter for him to end his service with the MACC,” the statement said.
MACC also said Abu Kassim's tenure as chief commissioner would only end in 2018, while his mandatory retirement from the civil service would be in 2020.
A source told The Malaysian Insider that Abu Kassim's health was being used as an excuse to seek his replacement.
This comes as MACC announced on December 31 that it had completed its probe into SRC International, and part of investigations into the RM2.6 billion donation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal accounts.
MACC said it only interviewed witnesses in Malaysia about the RM2.6 billion and was now trying to get the Attorney-General’s Chamber's assistance in securing documents and statements from overseas banks and financial institutions through mutual legal assistance.
Abu Kassim had been out of action from August to October last year over a back problem.
During his absence in August, several MACC officers had been the target of police investigations into alleged information leaks about probes into alleged financial scandals involving the prime minister.
This followed the emergence of a purported charge sheet against Najib drawn up by MACC leaked to whistleblower website Sarawak Report.– January 4, 2016.
