By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, June 6: Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah supports Latheefa Koya as the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief provided she does not practise selective persecution.
He opined that if Latheefa’s appointment could eradicate corruption and abuse of power, then it “should be a good appointment”.
“I believe we do need characters like that to be helming that kind of organisation. But then, there must not be selective persecution.
“You cannot be taking action only on your opponents. If you feel that there are excesses within your own party, you must also take action against them.
“You cannot have somebody holding a position in MACC only using that organisation against political opponents. I look at it from that angle,” Abdul Karim told the media at Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced yesterday that former Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya is the new MACC chief commissioner, effective June 1, 2019.
When asked whether Latheefa would be able to keep neutral as she is known to be a staunch supporter of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Abdul Karim held the view that Lateefa should be given a chance.
“We have to give her a chance. Before this, we know that she was a very committed activist as well as a staunch member of a certain party, but then, it has been informed that she had already quit her party.
“We will look at it from that angle. We have to give her a chance.
“But she was known to be very committed in her life when she was in Bersih and when she was in PKR … when she was in the NGOs (non-governmental organisations).
“We have to give her a chance. I mean people change. The way I see it, probably, she was very committed in Bersih, she can be committed in SPRM (MACC). Hopefully. Time will tell,” said Abdul Karim.
He added that anybody could be appointed as the nation’s top graft buster provided they are committed and dedicated to addressing the excesses in the system. — DayakDaily
