LATHEEFA Koya is the first female chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Commission established in 1967.

She took charge on June 1 for a term of two years, replacing Mohd Shukri Abdull who opted to leave before his contract ended next May.

News of her appointment, which broke yesterday, provoked a mixed response from civil society, the opposition, and Pakatan Harapan, whose members are split in their opinions.

The Malaysian Insight offers an introduction to the new face of power.

Who is Latheefa Koya?

Latheefa, 46, was called to the bar on 2001. 

She earned a reputation for her work in championing human rights and matters of public interest as a director in rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), which she co-founded with N. Surendran in 2011.

She was the defence lawyer in several high-profile cases, including for activist Adam Adli and cartoonist Lunar who were both accused of sedition.

She also took the cases of her PKR colleagues Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Maria Chin Abdullah, who were charged with violating the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Last week, Latheefa made the news as she fought to stop the execution of a Malaysian convicted of drug trafficking.

She served as a Petaling Jaya City Councillor for a term (2008-2012).

“Her work as an activist and human rights lawyer will hold her in good stead in her fight against corruption,” said LFL in response to her new appointment.

What is the reaction to Latheefa’s appointment?

Those for the lawyer described her as firm, bold and not one for empty talk – traits that will serve her well in fighting graft.

PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin sees her appointment as a big victory for women, a view shared by many women leaders and rights activists.

However, some have raised the possibility of partisanship due to her long ties with PKR.

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah and  Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism’s Cynthia Gabriel are among those who have questioned the manner in which her appointment was made, saying it went against the Pakatan Harapan promise of reform.

Parliamentary Special Select Committee on major public appointments chairman William Leong complained that the committee was never consulted.

“No, her appointment didn’t go through our committee, so we are surprised.  

“Under our manifesto (for reform), such major appointments should be politically independent,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

What did Pakatan Harapan promise in its manifesto?

In the run-up to the general election, PH had promised that all key appointments would have to be endorsed by parliament.

However, such appointments since, including those of the inspector-general of police, chief justice and the election commissioner were never referred to parliament.

On May 6, Leong said the select commit would review the appointments of IGP Abdul Hamid Bador and Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.

Parliament, however, did not empower the select committee for the task.

Pakatan Harapan in its manifesto had also promised not to appoint politicians to important positions in government agencies.

DAP and PKR have criticised Latheefa’s appointment on these grounds, with PKR communications director Ahmad Fahmi Fadzil urging Latheefa to quit PKR immediately.

What does Latheefa have to say for herself?

Reacting on Twitter, Latheefa said she had quit PKR on Monday after she was told of her appointment.

However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said he did not receive her resignation.

He told Malay Mail as of today, Latheefa’s name was still on the party roll.

“In this type of high profile case, she should have told the secretary-general in writing that she had quit the party. That is the proper procedure,” said Saifuddin.

What does the law say?

Parliament has no role in appointing key personnel to important positions in the country’s institutions.

It has no say in the appointments of the IGP, chief justice, election commissioner or chief secretary to the government, said former Federal Court judge  Gopal Sri Ram.

These appointments are made by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister, he said yesterday on Malaysiakini.

The MACC Act 2009 does not specify the qualifications required of the MACC chief.

Who was Latheefa in PKR?

Latheefa was a PKR Central Leadership Council member in 2014-2018. She also headed the party’s legal bureau.

However, she did not contest in the party polls last year.

Latheefa is widely regarded as being aligned to PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

PKR is perceived as a divided party with opposing camps headed by Azmin and Anwarmember aligned to one faction or other.

She has been a vocal critic of PKR leaders including president Anwar Ibrahim, whom she alleged practised cronyism and nepotism in his appointment of party office-bearers after internal elections last year.

In the thick of the party elections, Latheefa had charged Rafizi Ramli with sabotage and buying votes to oust Azmin.

On September 2017, Latheefa accused Rafizi of masterminding the Kajang Move to pave the way for the Kajang by-election with the aim of preventing Azmin from becoming the Selangor menteri besar and allowing then party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to contest in the polls  and helm the state.

What’s going to happen now?

Her appointment is seen as a sub-plot in the power play between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong said he hoped the appointment was not part of a “bigger conspiracy” to prevent Anwar from taking over from Dr Mahathir as prime minister.

“I feel disturbed for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as it is well known that Latheefa has always targeted Anwar. I hope her appointment is not some grand conspiracy scheme to stop Anwar from becoming the next prime minister,” Wee said in a statement.

“Privately, PKR leaders regard Latheefa as a loose cannon. One cannot help but wonder if she is a suitable choice for the role.

“I hope we will see some sense of impartiality on her part in this highly questionable appointment,” he said.

Latheefa’s appointment also comes at a time some PKR leaders are demanding that the prime minister reveal the transition plan for the transfer of power to Anwar. – June 5, 2019.