“It’s their right to express an opinion,” she told FMT when asked about criticisms by lawyers Haniff Khatri Abdulla and DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh that the move went against the rule of law.

Yesterday, the anti-graft body released nine audio clips purportedly featuring Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor, ex-MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad as well as the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan.

Haniff said Latheefa should have instructed her officers to lodge a police report and hand over the recordings to the police, while Ramkarpal voiced concerns it could lead to a trial by media.

The Bukit Gelugor MP also felt that spying on people by tapping their telephone conversations was unconstitutional, although it might be provided for by the law.

Najib, meanwhile, questioned the timing of the release of the recordings.