The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said she has been receiving “memo after memo” from the public to open various files on past corruption cases.

MACC would be reviewing cases that are of public interest, she said, but declined to name which ones, stressing that this would jeopardise future investigations.

“Everybody seems to have a pet file. Why don’t you deal with Sarawak? Why don’t you deal with Teoh Beng Hock? There are a lot of cases, which I cannot mention. 

“Some of it, I have been informed have been closed. I’m not too sure why it has been closed when people keep telling me that there’s a case. I need to deal with those things. I have been receiving memo after memo on cases which they (MACC) told me there is no case and I’ve been getting additional info and evidence. 

“I do need to go back to those files and check back if (they were) properly closed or not,” she told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Speaking on the sidelines of an anti-corruption forum organised by Transparency International Malaysia, Latheefa declined to name the cases that could be reopened.

“Cannot lah. Because I belum habis lagi, how can I buka? (Because I am not done yet, how can I open those files?) Because the minute I tell you guys, guess who will be scampering? I cannot. 

“I have to deal with this in the most pragmatic and professional way. If I leave you a hint of those files, I don’t know whether the files will be missing. 

“I know it’s juicy… but if I share it, it won’t help with the investigation. So please, bear with us.”

A committee will go through the previously closed files to assess whether a case was of public interest and why it was closed, Latheefa said.

“The committee has not been appointed yet because the previous committee has not yet expired their term. So, we are in the midst of that.”

On whether she was shocked at the closure of certain files during her predecessors, the former civil rights lawyer, who was sworn in as chief commissioner in June, said: “I am surprised (some files were closed) but we are dealing with people who are very influential.

“Whatever the reasons, we need to look back. Hopefully no one escapes if it (the file) was closed improperly.” – December 12, 2019.