PUTRAJAYA needs to explain why the appointment of lawyer Latheefa Koya as the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief did not go through a parliamentary select committee, said Transparency International Malaysia.

Its president Muhammad Mohan today said it may have been the case that the vacancy needed to be filled urgently after Mohd Shukri Abdull quit before his tenure ends.

“In some circumstances, due to any urgency, the prime minister has a say in the appointment.

“That is why the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership has to give an explanation. It is not only the (parliamentary select) committee who is concerned, but the public needs to know,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Special parliamentary select committee on major public appointments chairman William Leong said earlier today that Latheefa’s appointment did not go through the committee.

Leong said he is surprised at the news, which is announced today by the Prime Minister’s Office, as it is not in line with the Pakatan Harapan manifesto.

Muhammad said the committee should have been given a list of candidates to deliberate on before making its recommendation to the prime minister for a decision.

The prime minister would then advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the matter, in line with the Federal Constitution.

“PH made all the promises (during 14th general election) and now they are back-tracking. This situation needs to be explained.

“In this case, the committee is not even aware of the appointment. So, the PH government will have a lot of explaining to do.

“The public wants to know why was this (manifesto promise) not fulfilled?”

He also said that it is not Latheefa’s fault and that she has done the right thing by resigning from all PKR posts, including as a party member.

“Anyone who holds this post must not be a member of any party as they have to be neutral and above politics,” Muhammad said. – June 4, 2019.