Ahmad Said Hamdan, who has been helming the Anti-Corruption Agency since the sensational exit of Zulkipli Mat Noor, was today confirmed as the agency's new head.

His appointment will take effect on Monday, according to a statement issued by Chief Secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan.

Zulkipli's contract which expired on March 31 was not renewed by the government after he was mired in a controversy involving alleged corruption and sex crime.

The 55-year-old Ahmad Said was the corruption watchdog's deputy director-general I until he was made the acting DG on April 1.

The government statement said that his appointment was consented by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, on the advice of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Wide experience

Mohd Sidek said Ahmad Said was appointed based on his wide experience in the agency since 1975.

He had served as ACA deputy director in Kelantan, Kedah and Sarawak prior to being the ACA director in Sabah, Perak and Selangor.

At the ACA headquarters, Ahmad Said had served as head of the Economic Investigation Branch, director of the Investigation Division and deputy director-general II before moving up to deputy director-general I on Sept 9 last year.

He hails from Balik Pulau, Penang, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a Masters degree in Criminology from Indiana State University in the United States.