Appointments committee did not know of new MACC chief pick, says chairman

Deborah Loh Updated 4 years ago · Published on 4 Jun 2019 4:09PM · 6 Comments

The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on major public appointments was not aware of the appointment of lawyer Latheefa Koya (pic) as the new MACC chief, says chairman William Leong. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 4, 2019.

LAWYER Latheefa Koya’s appointment as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission did not go through the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on major public appointments, its chairman William Leong said.

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

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

“Under our manifesto, the idea for reform was that such major appointments should be politically independent,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Leong said he would call for a meeting after the Hari Raya holidays even though Latheefa’s appointment has been confirmed.

“We will still meet to look into this, because one of the promises in our PH manifesto was that appointments to such a post should not have been a member of a political party.”

Latheefa, 46, is a PKR member known for her human rights work with legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty where she is executive director.

Leong said it was not for him to tell Latheefa whether she should quit PKR but said: “From the government’s point of view, the government should have appointed someone politically independent.”

Leong is also a PKR politician and MP for Selayang.

The major public appointments committee was one of six new standing committees formed under the PH government last year, as part of parliamentary reforms.

The role of the select committee on major public appointments is spelled out in the PH election manifesto under Promise 16 on restoring the dignity of Parliament, which mentions appointments to the MACC, among other key institutions.

The manifesto also addresses reforms to the MACC under Promise 14, which states that appointments of its commissioners must be “validated democratically by Parliament”.

In a later statement to the press, Leong said the appointment of Latheefa, being a member of PKR which is a component in the ruling PH coalition, could “affect public trust and public perception of the independence of the MACC”.

“This perception will persist even if she had resigned as a member of PKR to take up the appointment,” he said, adding that independence and public trust in the MACC are of paramount importance.

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, while congratulating Latheefa, also raised the question whether Latheefa’s appointment had gone through the parliamentary select committee.

“Firstly, I would like to ask whether her appointment had gone through the Parliamentary Select Committee on Major Public Appointments.

“This committee was formed for appointments like this in order to ensure that there is better transparency when it comes to key appointments.

“Secondly, I state that Pakatan Harapan has made it clear in its manifesto that it is against political appointments. If Latheefa is still a PKR member she should resign from the party as I believe that she will do well as the new MACC chief,” said Chin in a statement. – June 4, 2019.

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Comments

  • Don't talk theory lah, Mr Leong. Obviously, the situation required a quick decision and the PM used his prerogative to make an excellent one. Be thankful for that instead of rolling out unnecessary red tape which has been the bane of this country.

    Posted 4 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Good appointment. I believe the person appointed is more important.

    Posted 4 years ago by Robert Phang · Reply

    • not really. policy is more important. What happen if the one appointed was Najib. Will you say the same? BN supporters will use the same argument as yours.

      Posted 4 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

    • Institutions are more important than one-time appointments. And beyond institutions culture is even more important. With this appointment, TDM is openly displaying the culture of 'leaders can do as they wish without following the rules'. We all know where that is going to lead.

      Posted 4 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • Yes, all of this needs to be looked into. Thank you William Leong for speaking up. Latheefa herself should have known better. While you're at it, Mr Leong, please can you look into why SUHAKAM still has no commissionners?

    Posted 4 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • Bullshit manifesto. Harapan still appointing politician in GLC's.

    Posted 4 years ago by It's me GR · Reply