Fikri Ab Rahim, an officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), has firmly refuted claims that his promotion was a result of his investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal being biased towards then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. During his testimony in Najib's RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial, Fikri emphasized that his promotion was solely determined by the MACC and its then chief commissioner, Tan Sri Abu Kassim. This statement came in response to accusations from the deputy public prosecutor, Ahmad Akram Gharib, who suggested that Fikri's participation in the 2015 investigation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed to benefit Najib, leading to a subsequent 'reward' in the form of promotion. Fikri, however, maintained that his rapid ascent through the ranks, reaching Jusa C even before the Saudi trip, was due to his exceptional performance and had nothing to do with Najib. He further clarified that the investigations were still ongoing at the time of his promotion, making any connection to Najib's case unfounded.
