His safety at threat, will MACC's Shukri be forced to 'SETTLE' with Najib, Rosmah on SRC probe, arrest sheets

KUALA LUMPUR - The concern displayed by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission for the safety of its No. 2 man, Shukri Abdul, was obvious when he returned from an overseas course in New York last night.

The MACC made sure their representatives plus at least 10 bodyguards were at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to receive Shukri, who was whisked to meet Minister from the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low and another of his MACC colleague Mustafar Ali.

Shukri refused to reveal what transpired at the meeting that lasted about 15 minutes, except to say "it's not safe here. Let me settle first."

His cryptic words sent shock waves through the political circles, plus an an eagerly watching civil service that has been angered by Prime Minister Najib Razak's perceived bid to stall and interfere in a corruption probe against himself and his cronies.

"Paul Low may be in charge of transparency and governance but what has he done so fa on 1MDB. Like it or not, he is seen as Najib's emissary, to suss out what Shukri will expose. For sure, Shukri knows what he is up against and he has to be careful. Otherwise, why the need for 10 bodyguards," a political source told Malaysia Chronicle.

According to the source, Shukri is being targeted because the MACC had played a key role in collaborating with sacked Attorney General Gani Patail to prepare charges against Najib.

"This has nothing to do with the so-called conspiracy to topple Najib by leaking info to the media and foreigners. Najib and Rosmah are angry with MACC and they blame Shukri for gathering evidence, witnesses and helping in the drafting of the charge sheet. This already shows MACC has enough evidence against Najib," said the source.

Will Shukri be forced to 'settle' & deny Najib's charge sheet

All eyes are now on how the Shukri will "settle" the issue with the PM's Department, which had controversially transferred 2 of his top men out of MACC and directly into Najib's control at the PM's office last Friday.

Will the MACC deputy commissioner and his men disappoint the Malaysian public after receiving unprecedented support to carry out their duty, even if it included arresting and charging the Prime Minister. Or will Shukri bow to pressure?

Already, The Star Online has reported that the transfer of the 2 MACC directors has been rescinded.

"An MACC source told The Star Online that the decision was made after a meeting between the commission and Government chief secretary Tan Sri Ali Hamsa and Public Service’s Department director-general Tan Sri Zabidi Zainal in Putrajaya on Monday morning.It is understood that MACC will release a statement on this soon," reported the news portal.

Threatening democracy - MACC or PM's Dept

Shukri is currently in charge of the MACC, as its Chief Commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed is on sick leave.

While he was overseas, the police shocked the nation by hauling up MACC officers, who had been investigating the alleged diversion of RM42 million from 1MDB-linked unit SRC International Sdn Bhd into Najib's personal bank accounts.

Shukri surrounded by bodyguards last night

According to the Inspector General of Police Khalid Bakar, the MACC officers were being summoned for "activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy" and investigated under Section 124B of the Penal Code for purported leak of key information.

The IGP's explanation was scorned, with the public demanding the MACC be allowed to complete their probe into Najib without any duress. It also forced newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi to publicly back off, ordering a 'truce' between the police and the MACC.

Desperate moves as anti-Najib sentiment swells

However, just hours later, an order from Najib's office appeared to countermand Zahid's promise.

Two senior MACC officers - special operations division chief Bahri Mohamad Zin, who was leading the SRC investigation, and strategic communications director Rohaizad Yaakob - were transferred to the Prime Minister’s Department with immediate effect.

The transfer order shocked the nation, prompting red-hot speculation that Najib's powerful and controversial wife Rosmah Mansor was behind the high-handed move.

The resulting public anger and intensifying discontent in the civil service over the 1MDB issue forced Umno leaders to declare their stand.

Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin described the move as "disappointing and strange", and promised he would not allow the MACC probe to be disrupted in such a blatant way.

In an immediate response, an emotional Shukri too urged Najib to rescind the transfer orders, and offered to take place of his men instead.

In a WhatsApp message to The Star Online, Shukri pointed out that Bahri and Rohaizad had only been following his instructions.

“Please return both of my officers immediately. Take me as a replacement. They did what they did and acted based on my instructions,” Shukri as quoted saying.

Meanwhile, anti-Najib sentiment has swelled. Banners that called on Najib to step down that first appeared in Johor, the home state of Muhyiddin Yassin, whom Najib had sacked for disagreeing on the 1MDB issue, have now made their way to Kuala Lumpur. - Malaysia Chronicle