Select committee in the dark over Latheefa's appointment as MACC chief

The parliamentary special select committee on public appointments had no knowledge that PKR member Latheefa Koya would be appointed as the MACC chief commissioner, said its head William Leong.

"It (her appointment) should have been brought to our notice for us to discuss the matter, but we were not aware of it," he told Malaysiakini this evening.

The Selayang MP said he disagreed with the lawyer's appointment despite the two being members of the same party.

Leong said Pakatan Harapan has been advocating that politicians should not head such agencies, particularly an independent body.

"All along, we have been talking about the independence of MACC. When there is someone from one particular party (appointed), then it (the appointment) is politicised," he added.

Leong said PKR would discuss Latheefa's appointment.

The special select committee was formed to discuss public appointments as pledged by Harapan in its 2018 general election manifesto.

Ensuring transparency

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah congratulated Latheefa (below) on her appointment as the first female MACC chief, but also questioned why it was not first discussed by the special select committee.

"Firstly, I would like to ask whether her appointment had gone through the parliamentary select committee on 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," she said.

Maria added that Harapan had made 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," she said.

Maria added she is glad that there is a term limit for the MACC chief, and that this should be standardised for other institutions.

Earlier, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Latheefa, who is the executive director of Lawyers for Liberty, would succeed Mohd Shukri Abdull as MACC chief commissioner.

It also revealed that Shukri has decided to cut short his contract which is slated to expire in May next year.

Shukri was appointed as the MACC chief commissioner last year shortly after Harapan won the 14th general election. - Mkini