Newly appointed MACC chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull has described his predecessor Dzulkifli Ahmad as a "traitor to the country."

"I retired early in October 2016 because I didn't want to serve under him. I consider him a traitor to the country. 

"As a deputy public prosecutor (before becoming MACC chief) he should have advised the MACC on further evidence to collect, not protect wrongdoers," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Shukri has come out of retirement to head the MACC at Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's request. 

Dzulkifli had quit as MACC chief last week. He had initially taken up the position in 2016 after serving with the Attorney-General's Chambers. 

He had been accused of turning a blind eye to the 1MDB scandal involving former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak. 

Malaysiakini has contacted Dzulkifli for a response. 

Earlier, Shukri said that he wanted to turn down the offer to be MACC chief, but was convinced otherwise when he met Mahathir.

"When you're facing Mahathir, it's hard to say no," he said, adding that he was inspired by the 92-year-old's own political comeback. 

Meanwhile, Shukri stressed that the RM2.6 billion scandal is not a made-up story.

"This is not made up. This is a true story.

"It is too big, you can't protect it," he said.

Critics of Najib claim the RM2.6 billion he received in 2013 was misappropriated from 1MDB. 

Najib claims it was a donation from a Saudi prince, but the MACC said it had not found documented proof to back up the claim.

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