Citing PKR past, Latheefa wants politicians to focus on reforms, not 'pretty speeches'

MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya has urged politicians to prove their commitment to institutional reforms and not merely talk about them.

Citing her previous experience in PKR, she opined that some Pakatan Harapan leaders lacked a thorough understanding of judicial independence and freedom of expression but merely spoke about these constitutional principles in “pretty speeches”.

She also noted the hypocrisy in the actions of those who professed their commitment to reform.

Latheefa did not name names and again refused to give specific examples when asked after making her comments at a forum titled “Strengthening Constitutional Institutions: Malaysia’s Reform Programme”.

“Unfortunately, based on my own experience having sat in the central leadership of a major political party and having dealt with other political leaders [...] these very leaders whom we are putting the (reform) proposals to have yet to internalise (and) understand the meaning of constitutionalism [...]

“What we hear are speeches - pretty speeches and quotations.

“People can quote William Shakespeare on one side, (Italian philosopher) Dante Alighieri and the Quran; but whether they actually embrace constitutionalism, that is something else,” she remarked during her speech.

Reporting critics, fancy dinners

Without calling out the politicians she was referring to, she gave two situational examples to illustrate her concerns.

She said some leaders and their supporters had lodged reports against their critics despite previously advocating the abolition of draconian laws.

Certain politicians also treated voters to “fancy dinners” that were sponsored by opaque parties despite campaigning that they stand for reform.

Latheefa thus urged MPs, as they were legislators, to internalise constitutional principles to enable real institutional reform to take place.

“At the end of the day, you (can) have very good speeches, presentations and papers that have been written about so many times [...] about the need for reform and all these things.

“But at the end of the day, who is going to pass these things (in parliament)?

“The very people who need to take this on and move it are the very people who need to actually deal with the idea (of constitutionalism) and internalise it,” she said when asked by the media.

Today’s forum was held as part of regional lawyer association Lawasia’s Constitutional and Rule of Law Conference, which took place in Petaling Jaya. - Mkini