Several media outlets save for a few selected ones were today barred from a press conference held by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Officials from the commission however denied that there was even a press conference in the first place.

"There's no press conference, it's just an interview session between (MACC chief commissioner) Abu Kassim Mohamed and a few selected media outlets," the officials told Malaysiakini.

Members of the press were earlier informed that a press conference was to be held here at the MACC headquarters at 12pm.

Chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa had confirmed that Abu Kassim will discontinue his service as per his request as MACC chief commissioner on Aug 1.

In a video published of the press conference today, Abu Kassim clarified that he was not pressured to resign.

He instead said that he decided to resign when an opportunity came for him to contribute at an international level.

Accepted offer as visiting fellow

Abu Kassim had accepted an offer from the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) to be a visiting fellow at the world's first anti-corruption university.

Malaysiakini earlier quoted sources familiar with the matter claiming that Abu Kassim could have been pressured by the Prime Minister's Office to vacate his post, while deputy chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull is also said to be retiring next month.

Abu Kassim's last day will be on Aug 1, 2016.

He will also serve on the board of directors for the anti-graft university in Austria and act as lecturer, researcher and consultant at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).