PETALING JAYA: People should stop the personal attacks against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, as any act of defaming a person is also a criminal offence, says Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos.
The moderation advocate said citizens should protect the reputation of all the "heads of our institutions".
"I wish to stress that any act of defaming anyone is a criminal offence under the Penal Code, immoral and should be avoided.
"Further, the people should learn to criticise the government and government agencies based on arguments and issues, and not resort to personal attacks because the intention of criticisms is to improve, and to comment on what is thought to be wrong or incorrect," said Jahaberdeen in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 14).
He said the crux of the issue should not be distracted by personal attacks against Latheefa, as such all personal attacks against her should be stopped.
Jahaberdeen, who is also a lawyer, said people should also focus on the issues pertaining to MACC and the rule of law.
On Monday (Jan 13), Latheefa claimed that a "criminal plot" to damage her reputation emerged after she had disclosed several telephone recordings involving high-ranking officials, including former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife.
Latheefa said a criminal plot has been "set in motion" to fabricate and distribute materials intended to cast "a slur" upon her personal reputation.
She added that a police report would be made on Tuesday (Jan 14) and that she would not falter from discharging her duties as the MACC chief.
The nine recordings are said to have taken place between Jan 5,2016 and July 29,2016.
The MACC said it received them anonymously just after New Year's Day.
