MACC chief: I was threatened, followed
> Shukri gives details of harrowing ordeal in handling SRC case
PUTRAJAYA: A damning revelation by new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull ( pix) yesterday detailed a cloak and dagger conspiracy that arose after investigations into the RM42 million scandal of SRC International Sdn Bhd was concluded in 2015.
Mohd Shukri in a press conference at the commission’s headquarters revealed how, fearing for his life, he was forced to flee Malaysia for the US.
Mohd Shukri, who retired as the deputy chief commissioner of the MACC two years ago, broke down as he related how he almost died and went through a harrowing experience when handling the case together with the then MACC head Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.
“I left for Washington but on arrival, I found I was being trailed. I left by train to New York and met a friend who got me protection from the New York Police Department.
“They took photos of the person trailing me. I sent the photos to MACC deputy commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki and directed him to send it to the former inspector-general of police and tell him to find a smarter officer to trail me as this one was stupid enough to be spotted.”
Mohd Shukri said prior to his departure on July 31, 2015, the probe on SRC International, where RM42 million was deposited into former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s personal account, was ongoing.
He said Abu Kassim had directed him to probe the case in which they faced dozens of obstacles including being sacked.
“The witnesses we wanted to speak to were taken away and also questioned on what they had divulged to the MACC by other authorities. I was threatened with expulsion and transfers and asked to go on early retirement.”
A day after meeting former attorneygeneral Tan Sri Gani Patail to discuss taking the case to court, Gani was removed from his position.
“I then received information that I would be arrested for conspiring to topple the government.
“In the US, I cried like a child because I love the MACC and I felt guilty because I had left my personnel behind and fled Malaysia.
“The threats I received on my life were immensely scary,” he said.
He said he was saddened to learn his officers were targeted and transferred out during his absence.
“We tried to do the right thing but they came after us. We were fighting for the country to recover the money that was stolen from Malaysians but we were accused of being traitors and conspirators.”
Mohd Shukri managed to get two former ministers, Datuk Paul Low and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, to put a stop to the harassment of his personnel in which they managed to reinstate the officers transferred.
Mohd Shukri said he and Abu Kassim never gave up and met with several ministers urging them to remove Najib.
“Only three ministers, namely Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah were brave enough to speak up on the scandal.”