LATHEEFA Koya was likely picked to helm the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) because she was an outsider who could reform the agency, said an analyst. 

James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, said the political hubbub over her appointment was overdone. 

“It is a good appointment. People should not get too excited. Let’s give her a chance, say for 12 months,” he said.

“The reality is that there are too many big fish that have gotten away with too many billions. So it’s time for an outsider like her to come in and clean house. I fully support the appointment.”

Latheefa was named the new MACC chief commissioner on Tuesday to replace Mohd Shukri Abdull who stepped down ahead of the end of his contract next May. She is contracted to serve two years. 

Chin, who said the government’s announcement on the eve of Hari Raya was a “major surprise”, dismissed claims that her appointment is a sub-plot in a power play between Pakatan Harapan leaders.

“I think the hoo-ha was largely due to surprise. Not once did I hear rumours she was in the running for any political job other than to be potential YB in future elections. Also, people who were not in the know were surprised that Shukri had wanted to resign. In fact, he’d wanted to resign right after Najib was charged.”

As to the direction in which the new MACC chief will strike out, Chin said Latheefa would likely need to sort out which cases would take priority. 

Her job was really tough, he said, given the close nature of the organisation. 

It is not necessary, he said, for her to get along with Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.

“Her job is to investigate and give the papers to AG. Their relationship does not matter as much as the political will to go after the big fish. Right now both the AG and Dr Mahathir have some political will. But this may change.”

“Her target list is long. Very long. So she has to pick the high-profile ones and we all know who they are,” Chin said. 

Although the prime minister has legal prerogative over appointments to the MACC, the PH coalition he heads had pledged in the general election to run by parliament such appointments.

Bersih 2.0 and The Malaysian Bar have questioned the transparency of her appointment and an online petition calling for Latheefa’s resignation is currently ongoing on Change.org to collect signatures. More than 2,300 people have signed the petition so far.  

Latheefa, who reported for duty on her first day earlier today, appeared to be taking the brickbats in stride.

“Everyone is entitled to express their opinions, so that’s alright,” Latheefa said in a statement today. “My job is clear. It is to go after corruption anywhere and everywhere it is found.” – June 7, 2019.