PUTRAJAYA: Members of the cabinet were left in the dark over Latheefa Beebi Koya’s appointment as the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief.
Three cabinet members said they only found out about the appointment when the former PKR stalwart’s name was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement on Tuesday.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the appointment was not disclosed to the Cabinet nor was it discussed at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting.
“We were not aware. Yes, you can say we were blindsided.
“It was not discussed in Cabinet or the presidential council.
“We will leave it to (Datuk Seri) Saifuddin Abdullah, (PH) chief secretary to convene a meeting on it.”
The PKR secretary-general confirmed that Latheefa was no longer an active member of the party.
He said Latheefa had sent an email to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim via the party’s email on June 3.
“As he had just come back from performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia he (Anwar) had not read the email and was unaware of it.
“But with her resignation we consider her no longer a member.”
He said Latheefa’s resignation did not mention anything about her being appointed the new MACC chief.
On whether he agreed with Latheefa’s appointment Saifuddin said he would reserve his comments for now.
He said he would have preferred that her appointment had been in line with Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto.
“This is where we promised to make the MACC an institution answerable to parliament.
“And, in line with this, PH would like key appointments to be made through a parliament select committee.”
Saifuddin was speaking to reporters at Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the cabinet’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house here today.
Latheefa’s detractors had lamented that the appointment of the Lawyers For Liberty director posed a risk to the agency’s autonomy.
PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said he was also caught off guard by the appointment as he was away performing his Umrah.
He said Latheefa had not been active in the party for sometime because she was occupied with matters in court.
“I think we should give her an opportunity to serve the body,” he said, adding that he was certain her appointment was not based on her political ideology.
The economic affairs minister also said MACC should be an independent body and conduct its investigations in a professional manner.
DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo said, although Latheefa’s appointment was not discussed in cabinet, she was capable of leading the anti-graft busters’ body.
“We welcome her appointment and she has got a lot to do and of course a huge responsibility on her part,” he said.
“I’ve known Latheefa since she and I were in practice together.
“She is definitely somebody who is very familiar with the laws that are applicable to her department,” said Gobind
The communications and multimedia minister said Latheefa was capable, experienced and had a proper understanding and grasp of the law.
He said the government had focused its efforts on cleaning up the country and bringing those who had committed offences in the past to justice.
“She’s definitely somebody who has the experience and qualifications for the job.”
On Latheefa’s inexperience in heading the enforcement body, Gobind said he also did not have experience when he was appointed as a minister.
“So far as I’m concerned, she has the qualifications in the form of legal expertise, as she has been a lawyer in practice for many years.
“This is an appointment which, of course, is a very important position.
“She has got what it takes. Let us give her some time and (there is) a lot for her to do,” he said.