← Back to list

Latheefa's Legacy

Mar 06, 2020

Image: Malaymail

Latheefa Koya, the first woman to have headed the MACC, has resigned as Chief Commissioner, a little under a year since she was appointed to it.

She is also the second high-profile figure to step down since the new government came into power...

.... after Tan Sri Tommy Thomas resigned as Attorney General former following the country's political turmoil.

Her two-year term was due to end next year, on May 31.

Latheefa released a statement this morning saying it was her own decision to step down and there had been no pressure on her to leave.

The 47-year-old lawyer also said she planned to return to her practice as a human rights advocate.

However, there's no word yet on who will replace her, although there is speculation that her former deputy Datuk Seri Azam Baki will take charge for the time being.

Latheefa's appointment, which took place after the Pakatan Harapan government took over in GE14 was viewed by many as a political appointment.
 

Image: Malaysiakini

Questions were raised as to why Latheefa's appointment did not go through the Parliamentary Select Committee on public appointments, as per promised in Pakatan's GE14 manifesto.

The former PKR central leadership council member assumed her role after then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the decision on her appointment was his alone and was not discussed with Cabinet.

Latheefa's nine-month tenure saw the anti-graft agency pursuing those who received funds linked to 1MDB, with dozens of individuals and entities slapped with forfeiture suits for the return of the money.

In January, MACC released 9 audio clips featuring former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and several individuals from the Middle East. 

Yesterday, Latheefa revealed how MACC had received the audio clips during Najib's corruption trial.

And, the recent case she said the MACC will be investigating is Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, after the former Federal Territories Minister revealed in court, that he has assets of nearly a billion ringgit.

Best of luck Latheefa!