Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed has taken the enforcement agency to a higher level of excellence since its transformation from what was then the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Communications and Multimedia Minister Mohd Salleh Said Keruak who said this, hopes that more outstanding officers could be produced and emulate Abu Kassim's performance at the MACC.

"I wish him success, and congratulate him and express my appreciation to Abu Kassim for his services as the MACC chief commissioner," he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

Salleh also congratulated Abu Kassim on his appointment as a guest expert at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), representing Malaysia, "which is an honour and testimony to Malaysia's commitment, through the MACC, to combat the crime of corruption at the international level".

Yesterday, chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa in a statement announced that Abu Kassim, 55, would not continue to serve as MACC chief commissioner from this Aug 1, as requested by the latter.

Meanwhile, Abu Kassim at a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday stated that there was no pressure from any quarters for him to cut short his service contract as MACC chief commissioner which should end on Dec 4, 2018.

In fact, he said, he had applied three times to shorten his tenure as the chief commissioner and this time it was approved.

Abu Kassim who was appointed to the post on Jan 1, 2010, had been involved in developing the MACC into an anti-corruption body of calibre.

- Bernama