THE controversy arising over the appointment of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief is just politics, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.

Latheefa Koya’s appointment is correct from both the constitutional and executive standpoint as the constitution states that the prime minister is to advise Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the candidate for the job, Muhyiddin said in Johor today.

“Her appointment went through the correct procedure, from the executive standpoint and according to the constitution. Now the issue is only the political standpoint,” he said in a press conference during a Hari Raya open house that was broadcast on Facebook.

“The final decision rests with the prime minister as according to the constitution, the final choice is based on his advice to the Agong. I don’t think anyone can dispute that.”

Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, said political controversy surrounding Latheefa’s appointment arose because Pakatan Harapan did not adhere to its manifesto guidelines

The manifesto promising greater transparency says major public appointments will go through a parliamentary select committee. The committee was bypassed in the case of Latheefa’s appointment.

She was named MACC chief commissioner on Tuesday. She said she had resigned from PKR the day before upon being informed of the appointment.

Latheefa had been an active PKR member who was on the party’s central committee and the head of the legal bureau.

Muhyiddin said the ruling coalition could learn from the episode.

“Maybe because we are new, we never really looked at that part of the manifesto. But moving forward, we hope that any appointments would be discussed by the top leadership first.

“To me, this is a new experience. Moving forward I am confident the prime minister will discuss (his decisions) with the top leaders of Pakatan Harapan.”

Several parties have questioned the manner in which Latheefa, a human rights lawyer, was appointed to the job.

Criticism centres on the fact that her appointment did not go through the select committee and that she was a PKR member.

Latheefa replaces Mohd Shukri Abdull, who opted to depart early even though his contract only expires next May.

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 in MACC by Dr Mahathir after the general election last year. – June 7, 201