This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 4, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly appointed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya will attend a hearing of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Public Appointments today over her controversial appointment.

Committee chairman William Leong, announcing this at a media briefing yesterday, said Latheefa has confirmed her attendance.

“There are several issues [concerning the appointment]. One of them is she was an active politician when she was appointed,” he said.

“The second is she was given a two-year contract. We would be asking whether this is good, since it is better for the MACC chief to have security of tenure, so the chief can carry out her duties without fear or favour.”

Latheefa replaced Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull whose contract was allowed to expire ahead of its deadline on May 17, 2020.

Her appointment, effective from June 1, was questioned by various quarters as she only tendered her resignation as a PKR member on June 3 upon being informed about the MACC job.

Government Budget Special Select Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, present at the briefing, said Parliament intends to establish four additional select committees by year end.

“These are Parliament’s efforts to establish a mature democratic system in Malaysia,” he said.