Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kassim Mohamed warned today that those who break the law can never hide from the public despite their best efforts.

"You may win your battle to hide evidence from the eyes of law enforcement but you can't hide from the eyes of the public.

"You can't run away from the legal system. They can evade detection for a certain time, maybe a month or two or a year or two, but not forever," Abu Kassim said in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that those found guilty would be dealt with and judged by the public, regardless of whether they are ordinary citizens, businessmen or political leaders.

Abu Kassim said this in his speech at a ceremony to rename the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy's moot court in honour of slain deputy public prosecutor Kevin Anthony Morais.

His 14-page speech was read out by his deputy, Shukri Abdul, as Abu Kassim was not well.

Continue probe on SRC International

Abu Kassim said Morais' brutal murder was an example of what those in the wrong would do to intimidate the graftbusters or derail ongoing cases.

However, he said, such efforts would not succeed, and that investigations would never stop.

He also warned that conspirators and macai (lackeys) who tried to derail graft cases would never rest in peace.

This is Abu Kassim's first public appearance after being discharged from hospital in August.

He had undergone surgery for a back problem on Aug 7, and has been on leave since.

An MACC spokesperson told reporters that the commissioner is expected to resume work on Oct 13.

Abu Kassim has vowed that his first course of action once back on the job is to continue the probe into SRC International Sdn Bhd.

SRC International has been accused of channelling RM42 million into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's ( photo ) bank account.

Najib has not denied this.

It has also been established that Najib was the recipient of about RM2.6 billion in "donations" from the Middle East.