NEWLY minted Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Latheefa Koya today said she has resigned from PKR, in response to calls for her to quit the party to maintain her neutrality.

“Thanks for the advice,” she tweeted today.

“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.”

Linked on her Twitter page was a news report on a call by PKR MP and communications director Fahmi Fadzil for her to quit PKR to avoid any conflict of interest.

Fahmi said she should follow in the footsteps of Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, who quit Amanah.

PKR lawmaker Maria Chin Abdullah, who once headed Bersih 2.0, this afternoon said Latheefa should quit all political posts.

“I believe she will be able to do the job. The only question is, is she still a PKR member? It does matter.

“Although she is a friend, civil society has always stressed on the importance of neutrality,” said Chin, pointing to past election commissioners in the previous government who were members of a ruling party.

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) announced today that Latheefa, 46, had resigned as its executive director.

Human rights lawyer Melissa Sasidaran has been announced as her replacement.

“Latheefa’s long-standing track record as a human rights lawyer and activist will serve the MACC well in its effort to eradicate corruption,” said LFL adviser N. Surendran.

“We congratulate her on this important appointment and wish her all success in the battle against corruption.”

Latheefa replaced Mohd Shukri Abdull, who requested that his contract be shortened from its full tenure, which was supposed to end on May 17 next year.

She is the first woman chief of MACC, and the first person without an enforcement background to lead the anti-graft agency. – June 4, 2019.