Latest news with #LatheefaKoya
Malaysiakini
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
After 'mother of all judicial scandals', Latheefa wants PM's powers stripped
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) co-founder Latheefa Koya has urged 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. 'It is a simple amending bill, it can be brought and passed in the session of Parliament commencing in a few weeks' time.
Malaysiakini
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
After 'mother of all judicial scandals', Latheefa wants PM's powers stripped
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) co-founder Latheefa Koya has urged 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. 'It is a simple amending bill, it can be brought and passed in the session of Parliament commencing in a few weeks' time.
Free Malaysia Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-AG Tommy Thomas wins appeal to recuse trial judge
Tommy Thomas, who was attorney-general from June 2018 to February 2020, denied any abuse of power and said prosecution decisions were made only after reviewing investigation papers from the relevant agencies. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal has allowed former attorney-general (AG) Tommy Thomas's appeal to recuse a High Court judge from hearing a malicious prosecution lawsuit filed by former minister Shahrir Samad. Justice Faizah Jamaludin said a superior court bench would be in a better position to assess whether there was any bias on the part of the trial judge, Justice Roz Mawar Rozain, as they were not involved in the case. 'We perceive that there is a real danger of bias on the part of the trial judge, even if it might be unintentional. 'We order the judge to be recused from hearing the trial and all related proceedings,' said Faizah, who read the broad grounds of the unanimous decision. Justices Supang Lian and Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin were also on the panel. The bench also ordered Shahrir to pay Thomas RM30,000 in costs. Shahrir, a former Johor Bahru MP, filed the suit in December 2022, naming Thomas, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Latheefa Koya, MACC, and the government as defendants. The suit centres on a RM1 million cheque from former prime minister Najib Razak, said to be intended for housing project restoration in Larkin, Johor. Thomas, who was attorney-general from June 2018 to February 2020, denies any abuse of power and says prosecution decisions were made only after reviewing investigation papers from the relevant agencies. Faizah today said that the trial judge had predetermined the weight of the evidence before the trial of the civil suit by Shahrir began. She said the trial judge had summarised the contents of Thomas's memoir, 'My Story: Justice in the Wilderness', in her own words rather than reproducing Shahrir's pleadings. Faizah also said it was not true that Thomas had lobbied for the AG's post and that of the public prosecutor. Similarly, Roz Mawar's remark that Thomas had played a part in toppling the Barisan Nasional (BN) government prior to being named as AG in June 2018 was false, she said. She said Thomas's lawyer, Alan Adrian Gomez, had submitted that BN was only voted out in the 14th general election. Faizah also said that Thomas never suggested in his memoir that he had pressured MACC to investigate Shahrir. 'He only urged for a speedier and thorough investigation into Felda, Felcra and Mara by MACC,' she said. Faizah said the claim of malicious prosecution was not written in the memoir but only pleaded by Shahrir. Gomez, who appeared with Mervyn Lai and Haikaldin Mahyidin, told reporters that parties would appear before the trial judge on Aug 11. Lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaludin said he would take instructions from Shahrir on whether to file an appeal in the Federal Court.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Azam's contract extended by a year
Azam Baki has been chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission since March 2020. PETALING JAYA : Azam Baki's tenure as head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has been extended by one year, the chief secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced. Shamsul said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, had consented to Azam's reappointment for a one-year term effective May 13, Bernama reported. Azam's contract has been extended twice since he took office in March 2020. He was given a one-year extension on May 10, 2023, and another one-year extension last year. Azam, who was then deputy chief commissioner, took the top job in 2020 following the resignation of Latheefa Koya, after the fall of the former Pakatan Harapan government. In late 2021, Azam made headlines following allegations that he owned shares and warrants. He denied any wrongdoing, but several watchdog groups and PH leaders called for an investigation to be opened However, then law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the issue was resolved after the Securities Commission Malaysia decided that there was no case. After the formation of the unity coalition government in December 2022, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended his decision not to replace Azam, saying he wanted to break the convention that a change of guard in the agency was necessary whenever a new prime minister was appointed. Last month, Anwar said the government had not yet made a decision on whether to extend Azam's contract, which was set to expire this month.
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah scandal ‘whistleblower' fears for safety after Pamela's abduction
The purported whistleblower in the alleged Sabah mining scandal, Mr A, with his lawyers Latheefa Koya and Mahajoth Singh. PETALING JAYA : The purported whistleblower in the alleged Sabah mining scandal, who previously lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), now fears for his safety following the abduction of Pamela Ling. The individual, identified only as Mr A, filed a police report at the district police headquarters here, accompanied by his lawyers Latheefa Koya and Mahajoth Singh. 'Today, Mr A lodged a police report for his own safety following the kidnapping of Ling, who has yet to be found. 'The similarity between both of them is that they were called in to give statements to MACC several times, not just once or twice. He is worried about his safety,' Latheefa told reporters outside the police headquarters. She also said Mr A lodged a police report in November 2024 after receiving a death threat, but claimed that no action had been taken by the authorities. 'The perpetrator sent him a photo of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe,' she said, adding that Abe was assassinated in 2022. MORE TO COME
