PUTRAJAYA, Dec 31 — Former Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali today announced that he will take on a new role at the National Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) as its chief executive.

On his last day as the Immigration chief, Mustafar said he will begin his new task tomorrow at NFCC’s temporary office at Parcel D here.

"I will be handling a new challenge as the chief executive at the NFCC, in which the details on the scope will be elaborated some time later,” he told a press conference after officially stepping down as Immigration director-general.

The NFCC was set up by the Pakatan Harapan government this month in an effort to tackle money laundering activities.

Mustafar said he had received the letter of appointment this evening and is appointed as chief executive before a new law is formed for the newly formed NFCC body.

He said the NFCC will be a body that will work closely with other law enforcement agencies.

While Mustafar was seen shedding tears with his now former colleagues at his farewell event, he said his proudest achievement during his two years and five months tenureship at the department was forming a strong team with the immigration officers.

"We birth a very strong team as a family. The first thing I mention on my first move on August 1, 2016, I said you are not my officers, you are my family,” he said.

While the director-general post remains vacant at present, Mustafar said that deputy director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman will lead the department for the time being.