LETTER | The appointment of the new MACC chief highlights the need for reforms.
| The appointment of lawyer and former PKR member Latheefa Koya as the new MACC chief commissioner has garnered some mixed reactions.
Bersih stated that ideally, a nomination committee should make an open call for potential candidates and make a shortlist, and the select committee would then review the shortlist and make a recommendation on whom should be appointed. In some instances, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may need to make the formal appointment, but essentially the executive decides. This is hardly a model of accountability and rather alarming given the power and finances that these institutions command.
Ministers should appoint selection committees, which should consist of both ministry officials as well as independent outsiders with relevant expertise. This shortlist could be made public and there could be a period of time for the committee to receive public feedback about the shortlisted candidates.
Given that our parliamentary committees are not even a year old, and still largely untested, it would probably be best for us to adopt the United Kingdom model, for a start.