KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes the cabinet will not attempt to conceal findings from an investigation by a special task force probing allegations made by former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas in his autobiography.
The Umno president said his concern stemmed from the fact that the current coalition government also comprises former cabinet members from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.
“Those cabinet members had for 22 months cooperated with Thomas. As such, it is feared that there may be certain matters that they find necessary to cover,” he said in a statement today.
On the same note, Zahid expressed hope that the allegations claiming the current attorney-general, Tan Sri Idrus Harun, might recommend that the findings of the probe not be made public, are mere rumours.
He said this by stressing the importance of making the investigation report by the special task force public.
“It is vital for the report to be revealed to the masses as Malaysians need to know the true story involving the former attorney-general (Thomas), who is a political appointee.
“The report is also pertinent because it could potentially reveal the allegations of selective prosecution that took place under PH’s government.
“Separately, it could also reveal the possibility of the existence of interference in the judiciary system by a former prime minister, for his own political interest,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced on October 9 last year the formation of a special investigative task force to investigate multiple allegations made by Thomas in his memoir, My Story: Justice in the Wilderness.
The task force, he had said, aims to investigate allegations involving misuse of powers in the appointment of judges, the interference by the executive in the affairs of the judiciary, selective and political prosecutions as well as breaching the oath of secrecy, among others.
On December 8 last year, Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that Sarawak legal adviser and former state attorney-general Datuk Seri Fong Joo Chung will be heading the task force.
Last month, Wan Junaidi revealed that the special task force has identified 19 key issues and that the report would be presented to the cabinet in the near future for further instructions on follow-up action.
Meanwhile, Zahid once again recommended the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry to investigate Thomas’ revelations in his book, saying it is necessary to address questions over political interference in the attorney-general’s institution, judiciary and on security matters. – The Vibes, September 29, 2022
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