Latheefa Koya, the first woman appointed to head the MACC, says that she is determined to ensure that MACC officers and members are free of any corrupt practices.

"The biggest challenge for us is to make the MACC a corruption-free agency," she said in a recent interview with Bernama at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

"That is the biggest challenge, to make the MACC a 'whiter than white' enforcement agency.

"It’s only been 40 days since I held this post, yet I am still in the mood to source for information and so on." 

Appointed to the post on June 4, Latheefa said she would ensure officers and members of the MACC are not influenced by elements of corruption.

"If I receive reports or complaints (on MACC officers and staff being involved in corruption), I will not hesitate to take action against them," she said.

Latheefa said the focus was also on making the MACC a pragmatic enforcement agency in terms of corruption prevention.

"Hence, prevention is not in conventional terms, which is not just by explaining that corruption is a bad thing and so on, but it needs MACC’s proactive approach.

"We have a unit that places MACC personnel with integrity in every ministry, agency and GLC to ensure their procurement system adheres to the regulations set,” she added.

Latheefa said the commission conducted monitoring and would ensure no loopholes in the procurement system of ministries, agencies and GLCs so as to avoid corruption.

She said so far, the MACC had received the commitment and good feedback from relevant parties.

"In addition, we have received requests from private companies for the MACC to conduct a course on managing the procurement system," she said.

- Bernama