PH blew it on citizenship matters, says Latheefa
Latheefa Koya said the Pakatan Harapan government had many opportunities to address various issues.
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan missed the opportunity, when in power, to resolve the problem of citizenship denied to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers, says human rights lawyer Latheefa Koya.
She said all the recent governments have failed on the issue.
In an interview with comedian Harith Iskandar, she said: “We are dealing with something that could have been sorted out, we had so many opportunities, but I don’t see political will.
“In 2018, we were very hopeful with Pakatan Harapan, that made a lot of promises. As soon as they got into power, we hoped some of these issues would be seen as a priority, you can change these things.
“Unfortunately, this didn’t happen,” she said on Harith’s What’s Going On Malaysia? show.
Latheefa, who served as head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission during the PH era, said the coalition’s 22 months in power should not be seen as an excuse because amendments to certain laws or policies would not take long.
She said the ministry for women, family and community development had the opportunity to amend the citizenship law so that there would be no difference in law whether the mother or father is a Malaysian citizen when it comes to deciding the citizenship of their children born overseas.
“That wasn’t done. In fact, nothing was done. And the issue is not new.”
Latheefa, who has gone back into practice, said she was “particularly sore” because the PH government had promised to deal with such issues. “It wasn’t just this issue (citizenship), but many issues actually,” she said, adding this included the abolition of the death penalty.
She said former de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong was passionate about removing the death penalty, but faced stumbling blocks within the government.
“All the oppressive laws that could have been abolished by tabling bills could have been done, I don’t know what’s the excuse. That’s the disappointment. It’s not like they did not know what to do, they promised it,” she said.
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan missed the opportunity, when in power, to resolve the problem of citizenship denied to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers, says human rights lawyer Latheefa Koya.
She said all the recent governments have failed on the issue.
In an interview with comedian Harith Iskandar, she said: “We are dealing with something that could have been sorted out, we had so many opportunities, but I don’t see political will.
“In 2018, we were very hopeful with Pakatan Harapan, that made a lot of promises. As soon as they got into power, we hoped some of these issues would be seen as a priority, you can change these things.
“Unfortunately, this didn’t happen,” she said on Harith’s What’s Going On Malaysia? show.
Latheefa, who served as head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission during the PH era, said the coalition’s 22 months in power should not be seen as an excuse because amendments to certain laws or policies would not take long.
She said the ministry for women, family and community development had the opportunity to amend the citizenship law so that there would be no difference in law whether the mother or father is a Malaysian citizen when it comes to deciding the citizenship of their children born overseas.
“That wasn’t done. In fact, nothing was done. And the issue is not new.”
Latheefa, who has gone back into practice, said she was “particularly sore” because the PH government had promised to deal with such issues. “It wasn’t just this issue (citizenship), but many issues actually,” she said, adding this included the abolition of the death penalty.
She said former de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong was passionate about removing the death penalty, but faced stumbling blocks within the government.
“All the oppressive laws that could have been abolished by tabling bills could have been done, I don’t know what’s the excuse. That’s the disappointment. It’s not like they did not know what to do, they promised it,” she said.
On another issue, Latheefa said there was a need to move on from the thinking that a messiah would save Malaysia by becoming prime minister.
She said the people must continue pushing for changes; societies had a role to play but must remove themselves from partisan politics.
“You can talk about politics but stay above it. It is not as if one group comprises angels and the other side are all devils. We have both sides. We should be able to decide in an informed manner at the next general election.”
She said the people must continue pushing for changes; societies had a role to play but must remove themselves from partisan politics.
“You can talk about politics but stay above it. It is not as if one group comprises angels and the other side are all devils. We have both sides. We should be able to decide in an informed manner at the next general election.”
Latheefa oso had the chan to solve the Teoh Beng Hock case, but she blew it. The persons responsible for his death still walk the corridors of MACC.
ReplyDeleteBut at least she did one thing right. She made public the “can I advise you something” tapes in a press conference. So now there is no chan to cover up the evidence. Like now the MACC investigating itself, their own people, over the missing $6 million from Jibby’s spy organization. For sure there will be coverup.
Latheefa the spineless. Quit as MACC Chief after just nine months, she didn't have to, even after Sheraton Shake. And she DID NOT leave MACC in good hands as she claimed.
ReplyDeleteBut at least she bongkar the "can I advise you something" tapes....even Jibby and Rosmah cannot deny it was their voices....just like the Sandakan hotel tapes....so clear who were the actors.....KT can replay every week or so for ulangkaji...ha ha ha...
If these tapes had been sent to the Polis or MACC, the investigation would be "kept confidential", for sure they will be covered up and buried. And the person(s) who recorded the tapes will be persecuted, charged in court for this and that. Shoot the Messenger. Forget the Message. That is the Malay-sian way.
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Latheefa Koya resigns after nine months as MACC chief
Lam Jian Wyn & Syafiqah Salim
theedgemarkets.com
March 06, 2020
KUALA LUMPUR (March 6): Malaysia’s first female lead graft-buster Latheefa Koya has stepped down as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner, just nine months after her appointment by previous prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
She is the second top civil servant to resign after Tan Sri Tommy Thomas quit as attorney-general on Feb 28 following last week’s political upheaval.
Latheefa issued a statement this morning confirming that she had tendered her resignation to newly minted premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on March 2, putting to rest speculation over whether she was stepping down.
During their meeting, she had also briefed him about ongoing efforts and actions for the recovery of 1MDB funds from abroad.
“He was fully supportive of these actions,” Latheefa said in the statement.
According to her, she had resigned to continue practicing as a human rights advocate.
“It was my own decision to do so. Speculation that pressure was brought upon me are baseless,” she said.
Her resignation is now subject to the approval of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Latheefa said throughout this week, she had met with and briefed her deputy Datuk Seri Azam Bai and other department heads in the commission to ensure an orderly handover of duties.
“It is business as usual in the MACC, in the capable hands of my officers. I am leaving my position with the fullest confidence that the MACC will continue to be uncompromising and tireless in the fight against corruption, irrespective of the position or political allegiance of the perpetrators,” she added.
The fiery lawyer’s surprise appointment by Dr Mahathir on June 1 last year was seen as controversial for two main reasons.
Firstly, the former premier had not informed his Cabinet, let alone consulted them, before making his decision.
Secondly, she was also an active politician who was a senior member of PKR, a component party of the Pakatan Harapan coalition whose government collapsed late February.
However, she had tweeted that she had resigned as a PKR member upon her appointment to ensure that she was independent of any political party.
Latheefa is seen as a staunch supporter of former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali — who led 10 MPs to defect from the party, contributing to the coalition government’s fall — given her vocal criticisms of party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
During her brief stint heading the MACC, she oversaw the serving of forfeiture suits to several parties including former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his family, associates and Barisan Nasional component parties to recover some RM270 million allegedly originating from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)
UNQUOTE
Hantu 'kum kum' speaks again!
ReplyDeleteThe reason nothing substantial was achieved by PH was simply because we had the racist PM7 at the helm.
ReplyDeleteThe DAP was emasculated to submission or blinded by ministerial positions.
At the same time, Lateefa could have done something about the Teoh Beng Hock case but she failed to do anything.
PH was really a big let down!