 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Top anti-graft buster Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan was threatened with being shot to death in a letter received on July 24 from unknown persons seeking revenge for the mysterious death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said yesterday.
News of the threat came in tandem with strong sentiment among top brass in MACC that the Najib administration is not supportive enough of the agency, with some displeased that the government acceded to a royal commission to investigate its methods.
There is also a growing view that MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed is more qualified to lead the national anti-graft body than Ahmad Said, who is now under tight protection due to the death threat.
The threat to the MACC chief commissioner was contained in a letter addressed to the commission's Selangor head office in Plaza Masalam, where Teoh was found dead on July 16 after 10 hours of questioning as a witness in alleged abuse of state funds.
Selangor MACC director Jaafar Mahad said the writer not only threatened Ahmad Said's life but also linked his family and the rest of the commission staff to the case.
"The handwritten letter used foul language to express anger towards Ahmad Said, his family and MACC officials following Teoh's death. A police report was made at the Shah Alam police district headquarters a few days after the letter was received," Jaafar was quoted as saying by the Malay-language Berita Harian newspaper.
In the letter, the writer blamed Ahmad Said and the MACC for the 30-year-old political secretary's death and threatened to shoot them while scolding them repeatedly and expressing dissatisfaction that the MACC had not investigated Barisan Nasional leaders but only focused on DAP politicians.
Teoh's death is the subject of an on-going inquest with the findings to be part of a royal commission of inquiry into the investigation methods of the MACC, which assumed the former Anti-Corruption Agency's (ACA) duties on Jan 1. Ahmad Said was the ACA director-general who then became MACC chief commissioner.
Ahmad Said told Berita Harian that the threats are part of the risks in carrying out duties for the country.
"All MACC officers and staff have been advised to be careful and be prepared to handle any eventuality without being pressured or lose focus because of the threat. Instead, they should carry out their duties while taking care of their personal safety," he said.
Commenting on a video clip on the Internet that purportedly showing a man being beaten up by uniformed officers linked to the MACC, Ahmad Said denied his men were involved, saying it looked more like an office in a supermarket.
He said the MACC condemned such action and hoped the police would investigate thoroughly, hoping people would not be influenced by allegations that smear enforcement agencies. | 
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