KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed is currently on medical leave following a scheduled operation at a hospital here, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today.

The MACC added that Abu Kassim was visited recently by MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Mustafar Ali, who found that the chief commissioner still required treatment.

“The surgery has scheduled long ago and on the advice of medical experts, Tan Sri Abu Kassim successfully underwent the operation.

“Medical experts who treated him have advised Tan Sri Abu Kassim to rest adequately before returning to duties,” the MACC said in a statement today.

Abu Kassim has been away during an apparent crackdown on his commission by the police over alleged leak of information regarding an investigation linked to a state-owned firm.

Mustafar is currently acting chief commissioner, as deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdul is currently abroad.

Seven MACC officers have been either questioned or arrested while police have also raided two of the commission’s offices in the past week.

On Friday, MACC special operations division director Datuk Bahri Mohamad Zin and strategic communications director Datuk Rohaizad Yaakob were transferred to the Prime Minister’s Department due to “disciplinary issues”.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday said he was temporarily suspending the investigation against the MACC.