Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today congratulated Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed on his appointment as International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) vice-president.

najib razak 241113 "Congrats (congratulations) Tan Sri Abu Kassim on your appointment as vice-president of IAACA. A huge recognition by the global community of Malaysia's anti-graft efforts," Najib ( left ) said in his tweet today.

MACC in a statement today said the appointment of Abu Kassim, 53, was made during IAACA's seventh annual meeting in Panama City from Nov 22 to 24, 2013.

Prior to this, he was appointed as an IAACA executive committee member in 2010.

IAACA was established during a special meeting at the United Nations' office in Vienna on April 19 to 20, 2006. Malaysia is among the founding members of IAACA.

The main objective of IAACA is to encourage and support the implementation of the United Nations Conventions Against Corruption (UNCAC) effectively. Until now, IAACA consists of more than 300 members from anti-graft agencies and anti-corruption authorities throughout the world.

According to the statement, Abu Kassim viewed his appointment as a recognition to MACC as well as Malaysia, due to its active contribution and involvement in anti-corruption efforts at international level.

He said the latest development showed that MACC's initiatives against corruption since its establishment in 2009 had gained worldwide attention and acknowledgement.

"This appointment shows that the international community and world organisations recognised Malaysia and MACC’s achievements in fighting graft," he said.

The statement said this was the second international recognition accorded to Abu Kassim and MACC after he was appointed as vice-chairperson of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) board of governors which is based in Vienna in 2012.

The academy is an educational anti-corruption institution under the auspices of the United Nations.

- Bernama