Yoursay: Latheefa as MACC chief a bold appointment, let the hunt begin

YOURSAY | 'While you are at it, don't forget the white-haired man in Sarawak.'

MACC chief steps down, Latheefa Koya takes over

Ferdtan: Latheefa Koya is a surprising choice as the new MACC chief commissioner.

Firstly, she was never in the civil service nor in a security agency before. So there are pros and cons about her appointment as top corruption enforcer.

The qualities of a good leader are as follows: honesty; integrity; commitment; accountability; delegation skills; creativity; impartiality; and, last but not least, empathy.

She qualifies for most of the above, but she has to prove more, as she had been extremely partial in her politics in PKR.

She has to adamantly state that she is detaching from politics for this important post. MACC’s position is non-political, a civic duty which demands transparency and neutrality.

Having said all this, we welcome an outsider, or non-civil personnel with no enforcement experience, to transform the agency into a top-class anti-corruption body.

My best wishes to her, and I hope she will not disappoint Malaysians.

OMG!: This is the best possible Hari Raya present from Harapan. Many thanks.

Getting an outsider to overhaul an organisation has its plus points. For example, Latheefa carries no baggage. She also has a strong image as a non-racial Malaysian who is fearless in speaking up.

I hope she will be another of the Greek Furies for Malaysia. The other one is minister Yeo Bee Yin.

This kind of appointment would have been impossible to conceive of when Bossku was in power.

May Latheefa succeed in her thankless but essential job in rooting out the endemic corruption Umno and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak gifted us with.

Hope thousands of Malaysian crooks of all races are now shivering.

Brave Malaysian: I fully support this appointment. It is a great choice because this woman is a no-nonsense, straight-talking person who is needed to strike fear into the hearts of the corrupt.

She has stepped on a few toes while in PKR, but that's because she does not mince her words. We need a person like this to helm MACC which has, for too long, lost its fangs.

Beware former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, the former inspector-generals of police, former chief secretary Ali Hamsa and all the top civil servants who broke the law.

The nation is still waiting for action against so many corrupt leaders.

The Wakandan: Syabas, Harapan. The Harapan government has not stopped amazing us.

It was Azhar Azizan Harun as chairperson of the Election Commission, and now, Latheefa Koya to head the MACC. Those are independent-minded human rights activists rather than technocrats.

She is a good choice. I pray that her courage in calling out corruption will be put to good use as MACC head.

I can see those corrupt Umno/PAS cronies breaking out in a cold sweat behind their collars, for their days are surely numbered.

Wsoi: Bingo! I am looking forward to real reforms. The country belongs to all, and if we can't reform, we can't compete and we go down together.

Whoever can't introduce reforms rightly has to go. Non-performing ministers have to go also. It’s nothing personal; the country’s interest overrules all other priorities.

Cogito Ergo Sum: Harapan has to be congratulated on its choice of Latheefa.

As a prominent and distinguished lawyer, she will add professionalism and tenacity, both of which she is known for, to the anti-graft agency. Wishing her success in her new role.

Scoopy Doo: Something is not right here. A job this important must undergo a thorough open vetting and deliberation.

Without doubt, she is quite capable, righteous, and not afraid to stand up and make her voice heard, but this sudden appointment is not the way to a New Malaysia.

Jaguh: Well, you can do a good job, but the most important thing is to shed your political past. You have to be unbiased now.

Roger 5201: Outgoing MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull may be an honest man, but sometimes it takes more than just honesty to nail the crooks.

I hope Latheefa fits the bill, as we have lots of crooks to catch.

KSD: Now that's what I call a bold appointment. Congratulations to her and well done, Harapan.

Let the hunt begin. While you are at it, don’t forget the white-haired man in Sarawak.

Jarchin: There cannot be a better choice than Latheefa. At last, one in whom there's ample public confidence. With Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, she will make a formidable pair.

Neo Zypher: I had to rub my eyes a few times when I read the title. Disbelief, but in a very positive way!

Majority Must Safeguard Minority Rights: This is an excellent choice. I have always admired Latheefa's courage and tenacity. Hope she is able to handle the heat.

Anonymous 568201438363345: Is this fake news? Lots of people must be trembling with fear. I look at this as the first step towards adhering to the separation of powers doctrine.

I hope Latheefa will propose some amendment to the constitution to protect and uphold the independence of MACC.

Just by this alone, I see light at the end of the tunnel for Malaysia.

Bravo, Harapan. This is the first time in years I've said something nice about the coalition.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.