KUALA LUMPUR (June 4): Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Beebi Koya has been appointed the first female chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), following a request by Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdullah to have his contract shortened.

In a statement today, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said Mohd Shukri's contract was supposed to end on May 17, 2020, and that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to Mohd Shukri's application.

PMO said Latheefa's appointment will be effective from June 1, 2019, for a two-year tenure.

"This appointment is one of the key steps towards the reform process of Government institutions," the statement read.

Latheefa today also posted on Twitter to disclose that she has submitted her resignation to PKR to quit as an ordinary party member to be independent of any political party, upon being appointed to the civil service.

“Thanks for the advice. But I have already sent in my resignation with immediate effect as an ordinary member of PKR yesterday, upon being told of my impending appointment as MACC chief,” she posted.

Latheefa was responding to PKR party's communications director Fahmi Fadzil earlier statement which said Latheefa should emulate Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof by relinquishing all his positions in the political party.

Mohamad Ariff was formerly Parti Amanah Negara disciplinary chief and a member of the experts' advisory committee.

In a statement today, MACC also expressed its appreciation towards Mohd Shukri’s contribution in the past, including “resolving two high profile cases”.

“MACC members will continue in providing support to the new chief commissioner whose appointment effective on June 1, 2019,” it said.