PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was his decision to make Latheefa Koya the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.
“She is very straightforward. She says what is the truth. She doesn’t mince words,” he said, at the prime minister’s Hari Raya open house at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya, today.
“I appointed her based on her strong character. She is not afraid to make her stand.”
Dr Mahathir admitted he did not consult his cabinet.
“I spoke to those who knew her and I decided.”
He said it was the government’s right to pick the MACC chief.
On why the exiting MACC chief’s successor was not promoted from within, Dr Mahathir said: “Sometimes we choose people from outside (the organisation). There’s no monopoly of any post in the country.”
He said it was not always necessary to pick the second or third in command to replace the head.
“We have the right to approve anybody we see fit.”
Several parties have questioned the manner in which Latheefa, a lawyer, was appointed to the job, including Transparency International Malaysia president Muhammad Mohan, who asked to know why the parliamentary select committee was not consulted.
News of the appointment broke yesterday, drawing a mixed response from all quarters, including PKR, of which Latheefa has been a longstanding member.
She replaces Mohd Shukri Abdull, who opted for an early departure even though his contract would only expire next May.
Yesteday Shukri said he was cutting short his tenure as he had achieved what he set out to do.
“My mission is accomplished. I have placed MACC on the right track.
“All officers are united. They are battling corruption together and the support from the public has been strong,” he told The Malaysian Insight in a statement.
Shukri was appointed MACC chief on May 18 last year.
He had served with the commission for 32 years before opting for early retirement on July 31, 2016 as deputy chief commissioner (operations).
He was reinstated by Dr Mahathir following the general election last year. – June 5, 2019.
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