The Malaysian Insight

FORMER graft-buster Abu Kassim Mohamed began work today at the Prime Minister’s Department, handling a new department dealing with good governance and integrity.

The Malaysian Insight has learnt that the former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief has rejoined the government and is now director-general of the National Anti-Corruption, Integrity and Governance Centre (Pusat Governan, Integriti dan Anti-Rasuah Negara).

Abu Kassim, who stepped down from leading the MACC in June 2016, made a comeback this month as part as the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) special task force team.

Others in the team are former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, current MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull and Special Branch director Abdul Hamid Bador.

The setting up of the special task force was announced by prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad two weeks ago.

The task force will be responsible for all aspects of the investigation, from financial tracking and asset acquisition which resulted from the mismanagement of 1MDB funds that are kept or invested in the country or abroad.

Abu Kassim’s resignation as MACC chief in 2016 was done two years ahead of the end of his contract, prompting speculation that he was under pressure to resign.

He stepped down at a time when the previous government clamped down on investigating bodies that were scrutinising 1MDB. A special task force investigating 1MDB then, which had included Abu Kassim as well as Gani, was derailed after Gani suddenly resigned as attorney-general, citing health reasons, and was abruptly replaced.

Abu Kassim, however, had consistently denied that he was pressured to step down. – June 1, 2018