KUCHING, June 7: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad owes Malaysians an explanation on the manner the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief, Latheefa Koya, was appointed.
In stating this, Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) secretary David Hii said it was not the legality of the appointment that is in question or the credentials of Latheefa but rather the unilateral act of the appointment, which is at variance with Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) promises for reforms.
“PH had stated in its manifesto that during the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, appointments to key positions were done in suspicious ways.
“It was further stated in Promise 16 of its manifesto that key national positions such as appointments to the MACC must be approved by a suitable parliamentary committee, which will reduce the ability of the prime minister to intervene in these important appointments,” Hii said in a press statement today.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) recently announced that Latheefa had been named the new MACC chief commissioner, replacing Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull. Her appointment is on a two-year contract effective June 1.
Hii said it was not healthy for a government that had promised reforms to Malaysians to do such a thing as it might create a negative perception in the eyes of the people.
“It is imperative now for the PH government and Latheefa to reform MACC to report directly to Parliament rather than to the prime minister with appointment of the Commissioners to be validated democratically by Parliament as stated in the manifesto,” he said, adding that there was just too much power that the prime minister had at the moment.
Having too much power is not necessarily a good thing, Hii reckoned, and the absolute authority vested in the prime minister might need to follow some procedures, like approval by the Parliamentary Select Committee, Cabinet and the PH Presidential Council. — DayakDaily
