KUALA LUMPUR – DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has called on former attorney-general (AG) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali to refund the government millions in ringgit following the latter’s suit against Putrajaya over his unlawful dismissal.
Labelling Apandi as being “the worst attorney-general in the nation’s history”, he said any decision to terminate the contract was carried out according to the law and that Dr Mahathir did not play any role in the termination of the contract.
“It was most improper for the present attorney-general to settle Apandi’s suit and for the terms of the settlement to be kept secret from taxpayers,” said Lim, referring to current AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun.
Apandi had also sought general damages, exemplary or punitive damages, as well as RM2,233,599.36 in special damages.
Lim then took issue with Apandi for the role he played in arranging a meeting between a representative of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
“Can Apandi explain the legal, ethical and monetary basis for his acting for Jho Low after he (Apandi) had ‘absolved and exonerated’ (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal?” he asked in a statement issued today.
On July 16, Apandi said that after he was contacted in May this year by Kobre & Kim, the law firm representing Low, he had arranged a series of meetings to discuss returning funds their client had allegedly taken from the national sovereign fund 1MDB.
Citing high court judge Datuk Azimah Omar’s ruling in his (Lim’s) favour by dismissing Apandi’s RM10 million defamation suit against him as being proof of the former AG’s multiple failures, Lim highlighted Apandi’s apparent acquittal of Najib as well as his apparent acceptance of the “fantastical” donation narrative without evidence.
On May 23, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Apandi’s defamation suit against Lim.
Meanwhile, former law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had taken to Twitter to express her support for “Uncle Lim’s” proposal for the federal constitution to be amended to hold the attorney-general accountable.
I agree with YB Uncle Lim 100% - the CONSTITUTION must be amended to hold the Attorney General ACCOUNTABLE....(asap)
— Azalina Othman Said (@AzalinaOthmanS) July 25, 2022
“I agree with YB Uncle Lim 100% – the constitution must be amended to hold the attorney-general accountable....(asap).”
Azalina also tagged other opposition lawmakers in a subsequent tweet, such as Anthony Loke (DAP), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR), Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko), as well as election watchdog Bersih.
In a statement yesterday, Lim had demanded for constitutional amendments to hold the attorney-general accountable for his decisions if a quarter of MPs demand a substantive motion to review his decisions in Parliament.
He had also referenced Azimah’s judgement then, noting that the judge had considered the “non-justiciable” and “non-reviewable” authority held by the attorney-general under Article 145 of the constitution when making her decision.
Apandi has yet to issue a public response against Lim’s claims. – The Vibes, July 26, 2022
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