WRONG WAY to punish Latheefa for speaking up: PKR legal director quits MBPJ post

PKR legal affairs director Latheefa Koya has resigned as a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor to head off an anticipated sacking.

In a letter sent Monday to Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, Latheefa it clear the issue was over an email she recently sent to Khalid and other top party leaders expressing her "concern on housing for the poor".

“As a consequence I understand that you and the exco are mulling over my sacking as a councillor in MBPJ,” Latheefa wrote.

"This has become a matter of public knowledge and speculation. In these circumstances, my position as an MBPJ councillor has become untenable. Therefore I am constrained to tender my resignation as MBPJ councillor with immediate effect."

Arrows of truth?

Nonetheless, the resignation comes as a shock and will put pressure on Khalid and his executive councillors to come up with a good explanation.

Pakatan Rakyat watchers say whatever Latheefa's views expressed in the email, the Selangor administration should be "big enough" to accept and ponder seriously if she had shot home arrows of truth - rather than leak out their displeasure to the press by threatening to sack her. Such methods would be tantamount to gagging and intimidating her.

Latheefa is known for her fearless outspokenness and insistence on the moral high ground, and many members of the Malaysian public will intuitively take her side. She is a diligent activist, often sacrificing sleep to give victims of high-handed police action legal representation and protection.

Embarrassing her through the press

So far, she has not revealed the details of her grouses that have angered Khalid sufficiently to take action. Her letter was also sent to PKR president Wan Azizah and the Datuk Bandar MBPJ.

Malaysia Chronicle has tried to contact Latheefa for further comment but she has not responded so far. Over the past months, she has frequently slammed the Khalid administration for neglecting squatters and for not providing sufficient housing for them.

“I cannot comment on the issue as we are still reviewing the matter. We do not have a final decision on the matter yet. We will decide on the reasons and our future action," Khalid had told reporters last week.

Malaysia Chronicle