Latest news with #Latheefa
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
PKR man slams Latheefa over judicial appointment remarks
Published on: Monday, July 14, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 14, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Lawyers for Liberty adviser Latheefa Koya said yesterday that the proposed constitutional amendment bill could be brought and passed in the upcoming Parliament session. PETALING JAYA: A PKR division chief has slammed Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) adviser Latheefa Koya over her call for the government to urgently table a constitutional amendment bill to strip the prime minister and the executive of all influence in the appointment of judges. Batu PKR chief Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi said it was ironic that the proposal came from someone who was 'abruptly' appointed as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief during Dr Mahathir Mohamad's second term as prime minister. 'Perhaps she has forgotten that the power and prerogative of a prime minister, which she is now urging to be removed, was the very same power used to appoint her as MACC chief commissioner. 'When she was appointed as MACC chief, why did she not call for Mahathir to remove his powers and/or influence over judicial or even MACC appointments? Was it because that power benefited certain parties at the time?' Asheeq said in a statement. Malaysiakini yesterday reported Latheefa as saying that the proposed constitutional amendment bill could be brought and passed in the Parliament session commencing in a few weeks' time. She also described the alleged leak of minutes from a recent Judicial Appointments Commission meeting as 'the greatest judicial scandal in history'. Asheeq however said that the documents had yet to be authenticated, let alone the allegations within them. 'Nevertheless, Latheefa was quick to describe it as the greatest scandal in history.' He added that the judiciary had faced 'real serious crises in the past', citing the 1988 crisis which saw the dismissal of then-lord president Salleh Abbas by the Mahathir-led administration. Asheeq also cited the 2007 judicial crisis, where a secretly recorded video was released showing lawyer VK Lingam allegedly brokering the appointment and promotion of judges in a phone conversation with a senior judge. A royal commission of inquiry had recommended action against certain individuals, including Mahathir. 'These scandals were the real judicial scandals that shook public trust and institutional integrity. Yet, Latheefa appears to have forgotten them, possibly because they implicate Mahathir. 'Latheefa should refrain from issuing populist statements, especially when she herself previously benefited from the very system of power that she now criticises,' Asheeq said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malaysiakini
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Boosting judicial integrity, regional representation
LETTER | I, Chin Tek Ming, a practising lawyer based in Sabah, fully support the recent remarks made by former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, as reported by Malaysiakini on July 13. In the report, Latheefa urged for constitutional amendments to enhance the independence, integrity, and transparency of the judiciary - especially through reforms to the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC). Her call is both timely and necessary. Our judiciary faces a credibility crisis that demands urgent institutional reform. Most notably, the recent leak of the JAC meeting minutes has seriously undermined public confidence in the impartiality and transparency of judicial appointments. When such sensitive internal discussions are exposed, it not only damages trust in the institution but also exposes the vulnerability of judicial independence to political or external influence. Further compounding this concern is the retirement of two top judges without term extensions, despite precedent suggesting otherwise: Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, the chief justice, retired on July 1, without a six-month extension. Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, the Court of Appeal president, retired on July 2, also without an extension. These abrupt transitions raise pressing questions about the continuity, independence, and succession planning within the judiciary. Greater Sabahan representation In light of these developments, I wish to reaffirm my earlier public statement published on Malaysiakini on June 9, which called for greater Sabahan representation in the higher judiciary and the JAC. As Malaysia continues to mature as a federation, it is vital that the spirit and terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are respected and realised, particularly in key national institutions. I reiterate the following points: Judicial appointments must reflect regional balance, especially for Sabah and Sarawak. The omission of East Malaysian representation risks alienating a significant part of the Federation. The appointment of respected and experienced Sabahan jurists - such as Richard Malanjum and David Wong - to the JAC would enhance public trust, bring a regional perspective, and add legal wisdom to the selection process. The separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary must not only exist in principle but also be clearly seen in practice. Without visible independence and impartiality, the public's faith in the rule of law will continue to erode. In conclusion, I urge the government to take Latheefa's recommendations seriously and to ensure that any forthcoming constitutional amendment includes provisions that promote judicial independence, public accountability, and regional inclusivity, especially for Sabah and Sarawak. Only through such reforms can we rebuild confidence in our legal system and uphold the foundational democratic principle that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Malaysiakini
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Boosting judicial integrity, regional representation
LETTER | I, Chin Tek Ming, a practising lawyer based in Sabah, fully support the recent remarks made by former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, as reported by Malaysiakini on July 13. In the report, Latheefa urged for constitutional amendments to enhance the independence, integrity, and transparency of the judiciary - especially through reforms to the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC). Her call is both timely and necessary. Our judiciary faces a credibility crisis that demands urgent institutional reform. Most notably, the recent leak of the JAC meeting minutes has seriously undermined public confidence in the impartiality and transparency of judicial appointments. When such sensitive internal discussions are exposed, it not only damages trust in the institution but also exposes the vulnerability of judicial independence to political or external influence. Further compounding this concern is the retirement of two top judges without term extensions, despite precedent suggesting otherwise: Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, the chief justice, retired on July 1, without a six-month extension. Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, the Court of Appeal president, retired on July 2, also without an extension. These abrupt transitions raise pressing questions about the continuity, independence, and succession planning within the judiciary. Greater Sabahan representation In light of these developments, I wish to reaffirm my earlier public statement published on Malaysiakini on June 9, which called for greater Sabahan representation in the higher judiciary and the JAC. As Malaysia continues to mature as a federation, it is vital that the spirit and terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are respected and realised, particularly in key national institutions. I reiterate the following points: Judicial appointments must reflect regional balance, especially for Sabah and Sarawak. The omission of East Malaysian representation risks alienating a significant part of the Federation. The appointment of respected and experienced Sabahan jurists - such as Richard Malanjum and David Wong - to the JAC would enhance public trust, bring a regional perspective, and add legal wisdom to the selection process. The separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary must not only exist in principle but also be clearly seen in practice. Without visible independence and impartiality, the public's faith in the rule of law will continue to erode. In conclusion, I urge the government to take Latheefa's recommendations seriously and to ensure that any forthcoming constitutional amendment includes provisions that promote judicial independence, public accountability, and regional inclusivity, especially for Sabah and Sarawak. Only through such reforms can we rebuild confidence in our legal system and uphold the foundational democratic principle that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah assemblymen graft: Businessman wants ex-MACC head Latheefa Koya on his team
KOTA KINABALU: Businessman Datuk Albert Tei, who was charged with graft today, says he plans to engage former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Latheefa Koya as counsel for his defence. Tei, 37, from Selangor, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to two Sabah assemblymen and pleaded not guilty. ( Tei's counsel, Edward Paul, said this was an unusual case where the complainant is also charged alongside the receivers. "It's quite unusual, but we are prepared for it, and he's very adamant about clearing his name on both charges," he told reporters after the court proceedings. He said they will be filing an ad-hoc admission application for Latheefa to join Tei's legal team. However, he did not disclose the exact date when the application would be filed, only saying that it would be "soon". Batholomew Jingulam and Jul Hamri Jumhani also represented Tei. Latheefa, who is also the adviser of the rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), is a peninsular-based lawyer who has been consulting Tei regarding the Op Adun cases. Applications for the ad-hoc admission of counsel from outside Sabah are made pursuant to Section 10 of the Advocates Ordinance. Op Adun is the investigation into the involvement of Sabah assemblymen in the issuance of mining licences.
