KUALA LUMPUR – Former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has lodged a police report against his successor, Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, over the contents of the latter’s recently published memoir.
Apandi, who filed the report at the Sentul district police headquarters at 3pm today, told reporters that the book contains baseless attacks and accusations against him.
In the report, he said he has obtained a copy of Thomas’ My Story: Justice in the Wilderness.
“I have studied the contents of the said book, and found that it generally contains baseless attacks and accusations.
“Moreover, I found that the book contained criminal slander against me, especially on page 199.”
He was accompanied at the police station by lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu.
Apandi said he believes that the alleged criminal slander contained in the memoir is an offence under Section 500 of the Penal Code.
“I am also stating that former AG Tommy Thomas has exposed certain confidential matters involving national secrets.
“These include matters relating to national affairs, cabinet discussions, and the position of the AG.”
He said Thomas is subject to the oath of secrets he had taken when he was AG.
“The revelations, in my opinion, are an offence under Section B of the Official Secrets Act 1972 and Section 203A of the Penal Code,” he said in the report.
In a written statement, Apandi said he lodged the report for “justice to be done”.
“Not only for me, but also for others who have been scandalised and humiliated by the book, especially officers of the AG’s Chambers.”
He said the legal officers talked about in the book are caught between having to defend themselves and appearing like they are going against their former head.
“As a former AG, I sympathise with the officers, who have been looked down on in a condescending manner by Tommy Thomas. This is very unbecoming of him, as he should realise that the officers are the backbone of the legal service.
“I can vouch that the officers are dedicated, and I could not find fault with their service during my tenure.”
He said despite facing personal attacks during his tenure, there are many things that would never “escape my lips”.
“Because they are secrets of the state, and they will remain as such. Therefore, none will ever grace the pages of my memoirs.
“I subscribe to this pearl of wisdom: ‘Knowledge is knowing what to say; wisdom is knowing when to say it’.” – The Vibes, February 4, 2021
