Is Latheefa’s appointment a game of thrones?

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 6 Jun 2019 11:28AM · 5 Comments

IN relative terms, the appointment of Latheefa Koya as the new MACC chief to replace the outgoing Mohd Shukri  Abdullah is a development that needs serious attention.

Latheefa’s appointment by no less than Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, which led to her resigning from PKR, where she headed the legal bureau, caught Malaysians by surprise.

This appointment was a surprise on several counts. 

First, it set aside parliamentary procedures such as the select commmitte in the appointment. 

Second, the matter of her appointment was not tabled to the cabinet but a direct appointment by Dr Mahathir. 

Third, I am not sure whether her appointment had the consent of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim in the first place. 

Latheefa, a lawyer and crusader for human rights, has all the qualities and abilities to take on the job of MACC chief. 

She has been outspoken on many issues, even against the leaders in the PH government. 

However, despite her resignation from PKR, there are doubts whether she will be above partisan politics in PH or even in PKR. 

However, her new role might make it possible for her  to assume complete neutrality in the new job. Again, there are doubts.

Of late, she has been critical of Anwar and his family. 

She was often at loggerheads with Anwar’s daughter and PKR heir apparent Nurul Izzah. It is a common knowledge that Latheefa has a much closer relationship with PKR No. 2 Azmin Ali than with Anwar. 

Azmin was one of the persons who congratulated Latheefa on her appointment. 

He said he had no doubt she would make a fine MACC chief.

It was not as though Azmin had been completely in the dark about the appointment of Latheefa. Yes, cabinet was not consulted but some ministers might have been.

In the ultimate sense, Mahathir took sole responsibility for her appointment, but surely the decision was not made without consultation.

There are grounds to believe that Azmin could have been the prime mover in this game of thrones.

Again, I have no doubts about the ability and courage of Latheefa to take on the role of MACC chief. 

It is not her abilities and courage that are in question but whether she has assumed a role that could be political in nature, regardless of whether she is aware of it or not. 

She could have been thrust, wittingly or unwittingly, a role that might be more related to inter-party or inter-coalition politics than to a fight against corruption minus the politics.

The claim of some NGOs that her appointment would send shivers down the spine of those who are corrupt must be weighed against the walls that stand in her way towards eradicating the menace of corruption in the country. 

The MACC being under the office of the prime minister, the lack of parliamentary oversight, its lack of autonomy, and the restricted role of its chief in major investigations might seriously affect the impartiality of the MACC.

The new chief might have all good intentions and will be ever willing to take on the real crooks, but given the structural confines of the MACC, there are limits to what she or he can do. 

Let us not jump to conclusions about the new chief causing a panic among the crooks. Give her time.

There are already rumours circulating that Latheefa’s appointment has really got nothing to with the fight against corruption, but is aimed at de-stabilising the conditions so as not to render Anwar the next prime minister of the country.

I am sure that Latheefa is not a pawn in the new game of politics that might be unfolding. But the fact that she had been critical of Anwar and his family and considered close to Azmin do not rule out a planned political agenda for her. 

So far, Anwar has not said a word about her appointment and whether he was consulted on this matter. 

Even if Dr Mahathir had bypassed the cabinet, surely he must have consulted Anwar. 

I am not sure.

Actually, I am very pleased that Latheefa was appointed to the position. 

Unlike the meek civil servants, she would be different. 

I am sure she will have all the necessary traits and abilities to go after those who have been in hiding and those who are seeking new political friends.

But then there are limits, totally external to her job. 

* P. Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister of Penang. 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • Ramasamy : It just proves that You , are not relevant. Why are u batting so hard for Anwar ?

    Posted 7 years ago by [email protected] · Reply

    • Let me play the devil's advocate. Maybe it was Anwar's idea all along. An excellent way to get rid of his fierce critic and staunch Azmin supporter in PKR. (She is no longer a member and had to shut up to keep an appearance of neutrality).

      The Machiavellian cunning back-stabber, sh!t stirrer Azmin just about pissed off every leader in PH. Even PM. Remember he used his goon to promote the Azmin/Mukriz leadership ticket instead of Tun/Kak Wan?

      Posted 7 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • On one hand you say TDM does right in appointing a truly qualified person to head MACC. On the other, you read too much into the book of TDM. Where exactly do you stand?

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Sir, firstly, I would like to say when I think/analyze someone's actions I always factor in personal selfish motives and sinful human weaknesses. Many a time, its becomes more logical and clearer than just based on dry academic unemotional theories. Humans are always "me first" and seldom magnanimous.

    So here goes ....

    Look at the current situation and one will realize that going through the the select commmitte in the appointment is a "no-no". Even one month before GE14, the political situation is so polarized one can't find a "neutral intellectual". So selecting one is impossible, and it obvious PM will want a pro PH to investigate SAC, 1MDB and past corruptions. Going though a parliament committee would result in stonewalling by BN.

    When everything is cleaned up in both BN and PH, go

    through a select committee is ideal, as in the developed countries where personnel were seleced on meritocracy, competency and neutrality. As it stands now, to ferret out past misdeeds and recover "stolen goods" and compensation is a priority as the country is in a dire financial situation.

    Whether by luck or design, we have a near ideal situation, a pro PH person to look into past wrongs and a pro BN person as PAC chairman to ensure no government chicanery, including us commentators and NGO who had no qualms to "hentam" government officials who make idiotic and stupid decisions.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • TDM is still the old devil he truly is. The appointment of a capable person as MACC in term of competence is not in question but the process is highly questionable. TDM have his own agenda all along, making way for Mukriz to become PM. Even Azmin is a puppet in his game. Anwar, well he deserve whatever that befall him as he is not intelligent enough to analyse and come to term that he is again "sodomised" by TDM. TDM was and is the master of all malfesant, unscruplous and felonius moves during his 22yrs as PM which laid the background to UMNO/BN abused of power and today it is leading PH to follow suit. Latheefa's competence is not in question, it is her anti-Anwar stance that is. The game plan of TDM of not letting go of the PM seat in Anwar's favor is clear and intentional. Now UMNO/PAS is sitting and giggling knowing TDM have paved the way of them recovering Pjaya in the next election is confirmed. They need not have to fight, TDM is serving them everything on a silver platter. All efforts deployed to oust UMNO/BN have gone to waste and Najib is gearing up to resume power.

    Posted 7 years ago by Jon Lam · Reply