One-man rule in MACC appointment

COMMENT | Many people may be agitated at Latheefa Koya’s appointment as MACC chief because of her political history. She, after all, occupied a high position in PKR and was a vocal supporter of a faction.

However, I think the main concern with the appointment was not the outcome, but the process. It is one of the most obvious violations of a Pakatan Harapan manifesto and principle.

When Harapan promised in their manifesto to return the appointment process of the MACC chief to the people, what they meant was to divest some of the decision-making power out of the prime minister.

At that time, Najib could simply sack the MACC officials who were unfavourable to him and appoint as chief the one who would never open an investigation against him.

Harapan thought that this had made the MACC subservient to the political wishes of the prime minister; the independence of this institution had been thoroughly compromised.

The solution, as Harapan suggested, was to ensure that the appointment of the MACC chief was not the sole prerogative of the prime minister...