A lawyer today questioned why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission issued a statement of denial on the reason cited by its former Special Operations Division director Bahri Mohd Zin, on his early retirement.

It is certainly strange and awkward that the MACC had done this after allegedly contacting Bahri, who denied making such a statement to MACC, said Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who appeared for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in several cases.

“The question is, if Bahri truly denies the content as reported, why is the MACC trying to deny it on his behalf? Why don't the MACC plead for Bahri to issue the denial himself?

“The fact is until Bahri issues a personal statement denying the report, the existing report (as to his reasons in seeking early retirement) is valid, correct and accurate in law,” Haniff said in a Facebook posting.

Haniff added that if the MACC and the government are not satisfied with Bahri's revelation, they should not twist the facts.

Hence, the lawyer reiterated his call for attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali and the new MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad, to take on his challenge and explain transparently the SRC International's investigations - or for them to resign immediately.

Haniff yesterday issued the challenge to Apandi and Dzulkifli to explain why the SRC International's case was never brought to court.

Also yesterday, Bahri confirmed that he opted to retire from his post two years earlier because he was frustrated with how the MACC investigations into SRC International went.

However, later in the evening, the MACC issued a statement denying that Bahri was 'disappointed' with the SRC International case.

In a related development, PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said if Bahri's retirement was due to the SRC International investigations then it should not be taken lightly by the people, especially civil servants.

“Bahri's statement shows the authorities' political influence on the MACC and the AG. Civil servants, especially within MACC, should be proud and support Bahri by having special prayers at his house.

“I propose that non-governmental organisations and political parties be mobilised to create self awareness among the people through a campaign as a sign of their concern over the future of the people and country as a result of corruption,” he said.

Mahfuz proposed a campaign where car headlights be switched off in the evening for several minutes as a sign of protest against corruption.