In defending Latheefa’s appointment as Chief of the MACC, Mahathir claimed she was strict, able to “see what is the truth” and advocated a “no-nonsense approach” to national issues.
The RM3.1 million allegation against Azmin isn’t merely a national issue, but “a very critical” one that may decide if the PKR deputy president is trustworthy enough to lead the country.
When Latheefa was appointed, we were assured that she would be “politically blind,” impartial, fair and resolute with the need to weed out corruption.
What happened to that assurance?
SUBANG JAYA: Latheefa Koya has just proven herself to be a burden to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and a waste of taxpayer money.
Earlier today, the newly minted MACC Chief vowed to stay clear of allegations that mega-developer UEM Group Berhad had transferred about RM3.1 million into the bank account of a minister, said to be Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali, while the latter was still the Menteri Besar of Selangor.
Latheefa’s appointment to the MACC triggered a huge storm when lawmakers from both sides of the political divide questioned Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s unilateral decision to appoint her.
The appointment contravened Pakatan Harapan’s general-election-14 (GE14) manifesto on three counts, namely, the promise not to appoint politicians to government agencies, the promise to refer key-agency appointments to a Parliamentary Select Committee and the promise to grant the MACC powers to appoint its own officials.
Mahathir defended Latheefa by contending that the Federal Consitution of Malaysia accorded him ‘veto’ powers when it came to such matters.
The argument was flawed on many levels, beginning with the fact that a manifesto pledge does not necessarily have to be limited by tenets of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia so long as it does not contravene the supreme law.
Mahathir could easily have referred the appointment to a Parliamentary Select Committee, given that the committee was recognised by members of the Malaysian Parliament.
As a matter of fact, the Prime Minister himself admitted that he referred to “many people” before arriving at a decision, meaning, there was nothing stopping him from referring to a Parliamentary Committee.
Mahathir was also “hiding behind the law” by stating that the Parliamentary Committee was not recognised by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia – not only was this to his knowledge back when he made the manifesto pledges, he made no effort whatsoever to push any bill to recognise such a committee.
At the end of the day, a pledge is a pledge – if it does not contravene the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, it can be fulfilled. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.
Still, in defending Latheefa’s appointment, Mahathir claimed she was strict, able to “see what is the truth” and advocated a “no-nonsense approach” to national issues.
The RM3.1 million allegation against Azmin isn’t merely a national issue, but “a very critical” one that may decide if the PKR deputy president is trustworthy enough to lead the country.
When Latheefa was appointed, we were assured that she would be “politically blind,” impartial, fair and resolute with the need to weed out corruption.
What happened to that assurance?
Where has the politically blind, impartial, fair, no-nonsense and “truth seeing” Latheefa gone?
Why has she chosen to take a back seat when a no-nonsense person like her should be willing to take Azmin by his horns regardless who he is or what his associations are with her?
Can you now see why Latheefa’s appointment was a bad decision and a waste of taxpayer money?
And to think that this is her very first high profile case and chance to prove her worth just days after coming to power.
THE THIRD FORCE
