Former MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad has denied that the reason he joined a legal firm currently engaged by Umno was in order to aid the party in reclaiming monies seized by authorities.

The denial came about a day after The Malaysian Insight reported that he had joined Scivetti & Associates, the firm appointed by Umno to claim about RM116.7 million in funds seized by investigators in relation to the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

The portal stated that he is listed as a registered lawyer with the firm on the Malaysian Bar website.

Earlier this month, Umno announced it was assembling a legal team – comprising Scivetti & Associates as well as a group of lawyers led by Hariharan Tara Singh to claim the funds.

Investigators had frozen several hundred accounts – with funds totalling RM1.1 billion – belonging to political parties, individuals, companies and NGOs, including Umno's main accounts and those belonging to several divisions.

Utusan Online reported Dzulkifli as saying that he had long sought to return to the profession and had applied for a practicing certificate before Aidilfitri in June.

"I made the application to attain the certificate a long time ago, as I want to actively return as a lawyer, and coincidentally I was linked to the firm in question," he was quoted saying.

Dzulkifli explained that he intends to open up a law firm in the near future and has managed to obtain his practising certificate after joining Scivetti & Associates. 

"In actual fact, I joined the firm on a temporary basis because after this, I will open up my own law firm and ready to accept any cases," he added. 

Dzulkifli, was appointed MACC chief commissioner on temporary transfer from the Attorney General's Chambers from Oct 1, 2016, to July 31, 2021.

Dzulkifli quit the position in May after BN’s loss in the 14th general election, and initially returned to the AGC.

It was reported last month that he was asked to go on early retirement.

He had been accused of turning a blind eye to the 1MDB scandal involving former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, which is now being reinvestigated by the anti-graft body.

Dzulkifli denies the accusations.