The new chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has issued a warning to politicians not to expect any favours.
Latheefa pledges:
- To carry out her job fairly with favouritism
- To transform the MACC, hopeful of delivering tangible results in less than two years as she strives towards her goal of a corruption-free Malaysia
“If there are any genuine complaints, regardless of who you are, bring them to us and we will follow up,” Latheefa Koya said in an interview with FMT.
“But calling it out in public, trying to one-up each other, challenging each other – it really does not help. All this calling out in the media (blaming and throwing accusations)…it makes the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission so politicised.”
She spoke of people who present memorandums to MACC and who then hold press conferences on the matter. If their complaints are not genuine, she said, it is a “pointless exercise” as the agency has nothing substantial on which to develop the case.
She added that she is firm about taking action based on evidence.
What if a top-level minister calls asking for a favour, she was asked.
“Firstly, I haven’t got any calls.
“To do a favour, no way. I don’t think anyone would call me. As you can see from the reactions (to the appointment), I don’t think I have any best friends in the government.”
She said the calls she has received have been from people in government agencies who are keen to join forces in tackling corruption and taking preventive measures.
It’s been slightly more than a month since she took office, and aside from familiarising herself with the agency, she is also trying to explain the MACC’s work to the public.
She said people are often unaware of the process involved when they file a complaint with the MACC. This creates the perception that the agency is not taking up their cases.
“I understand there is a gap between what is being done and what is out there,” she said.
Not all cases lead to prosecution or arrest.
“There are many levels of checks that we do,” Latheefa was quoted as saying.
Verifying whether the complaints are about corruption is only the first step.
Of the 100 or so reports lodged with MACC every month, only about 30% are actionable. The number brought to prosecution is even less.
Latheefa said it will be easier for MACC to work once the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission is established.
She also spoke of the new inspector-general of police whom she said appears committed to eradicating corruption.
“We are not denying it exists. In any agency with power of enforcement, there will be opportunities for corruption. We are dealing with that.”
On the case of Teoh Beng Hock, Latheefa said she would be meeting with members of a pressure group dealing with the case.
She said there had been a transformation within MACC on how interrogations are conducted, and that officers always speak of the case as having spurred changes and “the start of putting things in order”.
It’s been a steep learning curve and Latheefa knows that she needs to absorb things quickly.
“I have been receiving presentations and briefings practically every day. It almost feels like I am going back to campus,” she said with a laugh.
“I’m still in a state of shock. It’s something I have never done, but I am getting there.”
Latheefa was impressed with the inner workings at the MACC, especially on investigative matters, adding that she was surprised at how much work and detail go into an investigation to make a case air-tight.
“It’s pretty interesting how much of work and how much detail goes into it to make sure information is verified.
“If MACC catches you, they will not bring you to court unless they have a strong case against you. It’s that kind of standard that they have.”
Latheefa was busy preparing for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities when she learnt that she might become the new head of the MACC.
The offer to head the MACC came out of the blue, said Latheefa, who admitted she would have turned it down if she had been given more time to think about it.
“I can’t get into details but this was out of the blue for me. When the offer came, I was given a short time to think.
“If I had been given time to think too much, I may have turned it down. But I had to take this up, I had no choice,” she told The Malaysian Insight in jest.
Latheefa was surprised as she had not seen the offer coming. But she felt it was a golden opportunity to serve the country and stamp out corruption in Malaysia.
“I wondered if I said no to this opportunity to get rid of corruption, would I regret it? That really made me think.
“It was probably the biggest consideration I made when I took the job. Otherwise, I would have loved to go back to human rights activism,” she was quoted as saying.
Latheefa, 46, was a co-founder of the Lawyers for Liberty human rights action group. If she had turned down the MACC offer, she said, she would have felt that she was not doing justice to the people. Allowing corruption to exist would be a denial of the people’s rights, she added.
“It is a human right to live in a corruption-free country.”
Upon receiving her letter of appointment from the chief secretary on June 4, she knew she had a huge task ahead.
“Whether I am independent or not is for the public to judge, based on how I take on the cases. It is not for me to say. The public needs to make that call. They will have to judge me.”
At the moment, she is drafting a personal checklist which she will reveal to the people when she is ready.
She hopes to tick off her own boxes on the checklist as she goes along.
Her goals are to see tangible results by getting rid of corruption.
“I want to be seen as someone who delivered an MACC that is respected and feared by anyone who thinks they can get away with corruption.”
She also hopes to reduce corruption in the private sector by encouraging staff to get accredited for providing advice to companies and other agencies about the proper tender process and detecting any possible loopholes for corruption.
“We also have an integrity unit where we send officers to government-linked companies and public projects.”
As Latheefa looks to further transforming the MACC, she is hopeful of delivering tangible results in less than two years as she strives towards her goal of a corruption-free Malaysia.
Latheefa said she did not meet Dr Mahathir Mohamad prior to the appointment but met him briefly after her appointment was announced. The prime minister had just returned from his three-day visit to the United Kingdom.
“He reminded me of my powers (as the MACC chief) and told me that I need to know how to use my powers.
“He also reminded me of the big task I have ahead of me.”
In that short meeting, she said she was surprised at how much Dr Mahathir knew about her.
“It was a very short meeting. He seemed to have known of me or about me. He had done his research. It’s quite a thing, I’m still trying to grasp what happened.”
When asked if Dr Mahathir told her to look into any specific case, Latheefa said “no”.
Latheefa had to state that she was not heading any investigation into corruption allegations against her former party mate Azmin Ali for fear of sparking negative public perception over the probe.
She told The Malaysian Insight she had to come out quickly with the announcement as she has a good relationship with Azmin.
She said the public statement was necessary although she is never involved in any investigation as the MACC chief.
“There are two types of conflicts of interest. One is actual conflict of interest and one is just perception.
“This (Azmin’s case) is a situation of perception. I think I (was) left with no choice (but to make the announcement). If not people would perceive that the investigation would be tainted because I’m leading it,” Latheefa was quoted as saying.
Coming just a week after her appointment, she issued a statement to say the investigation would be handled by her deputy, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki and his team.
“As MACC head, I don’t get involved in the actual investigation. But people need to understand this.
“This (the announcement) is just to make sure it’s (the investigation) not tainted. Otherwise, there will be no end and I’ll have to keep explaining. So I may as well be clear about it.
“I can assure that all investigations will be done without fear or favour.”
“I can assure everyone that my job will be carried out fairly without favouritism. That can be judged through my work.”
Meanwhile, the MACC will no longer use handcuffs on suspects unless there is a danger of aggressive behaviour.
Latheefa announced the new rule, alongside an end to the practice of bringing suspects to court in the commission’s orange lock-up uniform.
“This is in line with the presumption of innocence and Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution,” she said today.
“While MACC is uncompromising in eradicating corruption, in doing so we will at all times uphold the rule of law.”