Decision to quit was planned from the very first day he returned to the MACC.
The truth behind Shukri leaving MACC:
- His condition for accepting the job one year ago was to serve MACC for only one year
- Wanted to complete only two tasks – investigations into 1MDB and SRC, solve internal issues within MACC due to divisions among officers
- Turned down a three-year contract
- Signed a two-year contract, but informed government not necessarily he will complete the term
- Intended to step down since last December
- Gave a letter to Dr M on March 6 stating his intention to resign after completing 1MDB, SRC cases
- Suggested shortening his contract effective May 1 2019
- Proposed two MACC senior officers as successors
- Asked to have audience with Agong on June 4 and found out about his successor
Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull has finally addressed rumours about his resignation following the appointment of his successor Latheefa Koya.
He told a news conference at the Everly Hotel in Putrajaya this morning that was also aired on Facebook that he was called to meet Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on May 14, 2018, in Putrajaya where he was told to “start work tomorrow”.
He said he had initially planned to turn down the position and proposed then Immigration department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali as chief commissioner, but Dr Mahathir’s instruction took him by surprise.
“Spontaneously, I apologetically told him that I will accept the job on one condition, I will serve MACC for only one year,” he said.
Shukri, who had to come out of retirement, said he only wanted to focus on settling the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and SRC International Sdn Bhd investigations, and resolve factionalism within MACC.
“I set a one-year condition because I was convinced that I could solve these two issues in six months to a year,” he said.
Shukri said three days later, then-Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa contacted him offering a three-year contract, of which he turned down.
“Ali Hamza said it was tak cantik (not nice) to draft a one-year contract, so as a win-win situation, we agreed to a two-year contract.
“But I told Ali Hamzah that I will not necessarily complete the two-year term as I wanted to keep my one-year tenure promise to Dr Mahathir,” he said.
He stressed that he did not resign or was directed to leave the commission, as his accusers had claimed.
“I had to come forward about the shortening of my service, and please tell the public that I did not resign, I merely shortened my service,” he said at the press conference today to clear the air and deny various allegations and slander about him stepping down as MACC chief.
Shukri said that his personal integrity was among the commitments he made to Dr Mahathir when he returned to lead the commission.
He said he placed importance on the truth and had never abused “satu sen duit kerajaan” (a single sen of the government’s money) in the 33 years he was with the civil service.
“I have done my best until my exit, I exited with good intentions actually, to fulfil my promise with Tun. So there is no bad intention, and I have never quarrelled with Tun or political leaders about cases, never,” he told reporters.
Shukri noted the false accusation of him being purportedly asked to leave the MACC for allegedly covering up cases involving Umno personalities and former ministers Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“As far as I remember, during my tenure as MACC’s chief, I think there were no files or investigations against Hishamuddin and Shahrizat,” he said, pointing out that the case of National Feedlot Corporation involving Shahrizat’s husband was investigated by the police instead of the MACC.
While saying it was possible that his officers did not inform him regarding Hishamuddin’s case, Shukri said he did not remember there being any files against the former minister.
“Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi’s case – he has already been charged, so what am I covering up?” he asked.
Shukri also addressed the allegation that he had purportedly received money from former attorney-general Tan Sri Apandi Ali and released the latter’s passport.
“That has nothing to do with me, the passport was released by the Immigration Department. Tan Sri Apandi made an application in court, so what is the connection to MACC, to me?
“I was also accused of receiving bribes from many Umno, PAS and PBB leaders, I’m telling here, it’s all baseless,” he said.
Insisting that he had never covered up any corruption cases, Shukri said he had always instructed for the rule of law to be applied to all cases investigated by the MACC.
“Do the right thing. Do it right. So whoever tried to obstruct, tries to interfere, don’t bother, proceed until the end of the case. Whether to prosecute or not is the AG’s prerogative, MACC’s duty is to investigate until it is completed, nobody can interfere with MACC’s work,” he said.
Shukri also recounted the MACC’s successes under his leadership, noting that the number of arrests by the anti-graft body hit a historic high of almost 1,300 individuals from May 2018 to May 2019.
Those arrested included 30 VIP politicians or “big fish”, 30 CEOs of government-linked companies and those from the private sector, 13 high-ranking officials, he said, noting: “You see, the figures itself showed that we created a big record in one year.”
“So about the coming cases, don’t worry, the same officers will do the work and they will complete their duties as what they have done previously,” he said.
With many high-profile cases having successfully been brought to court, the MACC has achieved the highest conviction rate in history of 91 per cent for corruption cases in the past year.
Noting that the MACC’s achievements have been internationally recognised with foreign delegations coming over to learn from it and with invitations for international talks, Shukri called on the public to stop speculating and let him resign peacefully.
“I beg the public, let me leave MACC peacefully, I don’t want bad slander, let me, to be at peace with my family, because I have done the best I could to MACC and to the country. So all the allegations are baseless, I never did things like that,” he said.
Shukri reiterated that his decision to quit was planned from the very first day he returned to the MACC.
“I did not run away in shock, nor am I being ousted or leaving the MACC high and dry,” he said, adding that he regretted his decision had drawn criticism and slander.
Shukri revealed that he gave a letter to Dr Mahathir on March 6, 2019, stating his intention to resign after having completed the 1MDB and SRC International cases.
“I suggested to shorten my contract effective May 1, 2019. I also listed my proposed successors, which were two MACC senior officers who could continue the vision and mission of the MACC successfully,” he said, adding that he brought his predecessor, Abu Kassim Mohamed, along with him to meet Dr Mahathir.
“That means Tun had two months, I gave very ample time to Tun to find my successor, so the process of replacing me goes on smoothly,” Shukri said.
He said he did not receive a response from the prime minister and continued his work until he was asked to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong regarding his resignation on June 4.
“That was the day I found out that they had selected my successor and confirmed it was an outsider,” he said.
Shukri said the appointment was a surprise as Latheefa Koya’s name was never brought up in his previous meetings with Dr Mahathir.
But he acknowledged that it is the prime minister’s prerogative to make appointments and said he would not dispute Latheefa to succeed him, instead expressing confidence that she would do her best for MACC.
Shukri also confirmed today that he had finally received an official response regarding his application to end his tenure as MACC chief earlier.
“That is what I have been waiting all this while, I asked for it earlier, I just received a letter from the Chief Secretary to the Government, the government agrees with my application to shorten the contract. I have received it, OK lah, I am very happy, my wish has been achieved,” he said.
He also said he will support his successor, and added that it was a waste of time to “rant and rave” as the prime minister had decided on Latheefa’s appointment
“Stop embawang (gossiping) and give Latheefa Koya a chance.
“If we membawang (gossip) about her appointment, it is a waste of time.
“Give her support and let her do her work. Let her do her best and possibly with her experience as a lawyer, she can bring corporate ideas and combine with government initiatives.
“Although the new chief commissioner has no experience in MACC work, it is the officers who will be doing the work, and these officers are trained. So things will go smoothly,” he said
“Whether she is independent or not, we will see. But give her a chance, I trust she will do the best for the MACC and for our country,” he added.
Shukri’s advice for Latheefah was to be “fearless, impartial and not bow to pressure” in order to succeed as the MACC chief.
“She must do the right thing and she must do it right. That is important. Second, she must be fearless, independent, neutral and impartial.”