The political analyst left MACC’s headquarters here at 6.30pm without speaking to reporters.

The anti-graft agency previously issued a public search notice for Chai and offered to cover his travel expenses from the United Kingdom, where he is currently based.

While the commission did not specify the reason he was being sought, the notice came after an investigation into alleged misconduct linked to a RM1.1 billion government deal with chipmaker Arm Holdings signed in March last year.

MACC gave Chai several extensions to return and assist in the probe, warning that failure to do so could prompt the agency to seek international cooperation, including through Interpol or foreign enforcement agencies, to locate him and secure his attendance.

Chai said on March 6 that he had appointed two lawyers to liaise with MACC officers to arrange a session for his statement to be recorded.

This followed MACC’s call for him to immediately contact investigators and return to Malaysia to assist in the ongoing probe.

The commission said he had not responded to several attempts by officers to reach him or to appear at its headquarters in Putrajaya.

Chai, however, said he only became aware that MACC wanted his cooperation after the public notice was issued to trace his whereabouts, adding that he was ready to fully cooperate with the agency “in a lawful and professional manner”.

He also criticised the search notice, which included the address of his childhood home, saying it was excessive and appeared to portray him as a fugitive.