Wangsa Maju MP endorses petition urging Latheefa to quit

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 7 Jun 2019 1:15PM · 10 Comments

Wangsa Maju MP Dr Tan Yee Kew posted a link urging Latheefa Koya to resign as MACC chief on her Facebook account today. – Facebok pic, June 7, 2019.

AN online petition, created on Change.org yesterday, has received more than 1,000 signatures from respondents seeking the ouster of Latheefa Koya as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner (MACC) chief, days after her appointment was announced by the prime minister’s office.

The petition, created by user Malaysia Baharu, has been endorsed by PKR’s Wangsa Maju MP Dr Tan Yee Kew.

The petition described the appointment last Saturday as a political one, which runs counter with the principles of Pakatan Harapan.

“(PH’s) goal to reform MACC as an independent body, free from political interference, has been tainted,” the petition said. 

Latheefa, a prominent human rights lawyer, also resigned from PKR on Monday. 

Tan said the process by which Latheefa was appointed is flawed and goes against PH’s campaign to reduce the prime minister’s power to appoint key people.

“The process is not right. As a responsible politician, who has been working very hard for the past years for a new Malaysia, I think she should resign to defend the new Malaysia concept,” said Tan, who has placed a link to the petition on her Facebook page. 

“We must uphold the principle which we have been fighting for. This has nothing to do with her integrity or capacity. We have been talking about reducing the power of the PM in the appointment of all these important posts. She should resign to show that she is still with us,” she said.

Tan, a former PKR party treasurer, denied her stance is motivated by factionalism within PKR.

“This has nothing to do with her. It’s more to do with upholding the principle which we have been fighting together.”

Latheefa was named as the new MACC chief commissioner on Tuesday to replace Mohd Shukri Abdull who stepped down ahead of the end of his contract on May 17, 2020.

The former Lawyers for Liberty executive director is on a two-year contract with the commission effective June 1, 2019.  

Her shock appointment provoked a mixed response from civil society, the opposition, and PH, whose members are split in their opinions.

During the open house at the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya on Wednesday, Dr Mahathir Mohamad told reporters that said it was his decision to make Latheefa the MACC chief.

“She is very straightforward. She says what the truth is. She doesn’t mince words,” he said. “I appointed her based on her strong character. She is not afraid to make her stand.” – June 7, 2019.

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Comments

  • Why not petition for Mahathir to resign , Dr Tan ? Since u cakap banyak sangat about holding on to principles.

    Posted 6 years ago by [email protected] · Reply

  • Another insignificant moron shooting her mouth off

    Posted 6 years ago by Eddie Foo · Reply

  • I think the appointee is well qualified. But I have to agree that the way she is appointed is flawed.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

  • She is qualified. The process of how the appointment happened, however, needs to be ratified

    Posted 6 years ago by Francis Chang · Reply

  • Another stooge of the disillusioned bunch. If you guys intend to tear up what the country needs, I think you have too much time and using the guise of democratic principle at the wrong time , wrong place by wrong people. Mahatir could just abide and get the parliamentary selection committe to agree on LK appointment BUT mark my words that will be the last of you guys to be MPs. We shall see new set up and new PM in waiting fully supported by rakyat. We need actions and not busy MPs doing nothing but meddling on trivial concerns.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • More maroons like Tan will surace to carry Anwar's balls in the hope getting ministerial posts when he became the PM.

    Posted 6 years ago by Swaminaidu Venkatasamy · Reply

  • Naive enough? Absolute authority to MACC Chief? She can even charge the PM? Excellent but where is then the check and balance to the MACC Chief?Where u find appointment totally detached from political boss like the PM? People question the process , not the authority of PM. We should ask PM if she can't perform to the expectation of the public, we would insist PM to dismiss her! Or PM has to resign bcos of his autocratic decision on the appointment.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • The MP's endorsement of the petition by 'Malaysia Baharu who?' is thoughtless.

    Posted 6 years ago by Boo Teik Khoo · Reply

  • Malaysia is Bleeding with CORRUPTED POLITICIANS. As long as Latheefa is NOT CORRUPTED n has MORAL VALUES she is QUALIFIED.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Aint gonna happen

    Posted 6 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply