Lawyer Latheefa Koya appointed as MACC chief

Latheefa was born in Kerala, India but has lived in Kuala Lumpur since she was 3 months old.

(FMT) – Rights lawyer Latheefa Koya has been appointed as head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), replacing Mohd Shukri Abdull whose contract was allowed to expire ahead of its deadline on May 17, 2020.

In a statement today, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Latheefa would serve as MACC chief for two years beginning June 1.

“The appointment is among the steps towards reform in government institutions,” it said.

Shukri was attached with MACC for 32 years before opting for early retirement in July 2016.

Last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the former deputy chief commissioner would return to head the anti-graft agency.

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In a tell-all after returning to MACC, Shukri claimed he was threatened numerous times when investigating issues surrounding 1MDB and the investment arm’s former subsidiary SRC International.

He said he was harassed and threatened in 2015 and that on one occasion, a bullet was sent to his home.

The PMO said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted Shukri’s request to end his contract ahead of schedule, in line with Sub-Section 5(3) of the MACC Act 2009.

“The government thanks him for his service to the country throughout his tenure as MACC chief commissioner,” it added.