KUALA LUMPUR – Police are completing the probe into former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas over allegations of sedition, among others, regarding the contents of his memoir My Story: Justice In the Wilderness.
In a brief statement, Royal Malaysia Police secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said the completed investigation papers will be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.
Thomas is being investigated under Sections 124I and 203A of the Penal Code for disseminating false reports likely to cause public alarm and disclosure of information obtained during the discharge of one’s official duties.
He is also probed under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 for issuing seditious statements, Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1972 for wrongful communication of official secrets, and Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 for using his position for gratification.
Yesterday, Thomas filed a legal action to challenge a report by the special task force that investigated the contents of his memoir.
Thomas as the plaintiff filed an originating summons through his firm and named task force chairman Datuk Seri Fong Joo Chung, who is the former Sarawak AG and legal adviser, as the first defendant.
Members of the task force, namely former Sabah secretary Datuk Seri Hashim Paijan; former Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Junaidah Kamaruddin, who is also former director-general of the Legal Affairs Division; former judge and senior federal counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh Bant Singh; lawyers Datuk Shaharudin Ali and K. Balaguru; government representatives Farah Adura Hamidi and Mohd Najib Surip; and the Malaysian government were named as the second to ninth defendants.
In his suit, Thomas seeks a declaration that the report produced by the first to eighth defendants is an illegal document and violates Sections 499 and 500 of the Penal Code and/or Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
He also seeks a declaration that the publication of the said report by the ninth defendant violates the ex-AG’s right to a reputation protected by Articles 5(1) and/or 13(1) of the federal constitution.
Meanwhile, in his affidavit of support, Thomas alleged that the report was published with the intention to harm his reputation, contained false and baseless allegations, and was published with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass him.
Earlier, the investigation papers were referred to the AGC for further instructions after the special investigation task force’s briefing to the cabinet and the prime minister’s instructions to the authorities.
Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had ordered the authorities to investigate Thomas for sedition and breaching the Official Secrets Act, among others, over several allegations the former AG made in his autobiography.
The decision was made in the cabinet meeting on September 30 following a briefing by the special task force set up to probe Thomas’ claims in his memoir, which was published in January 2021.
In September, then law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar revealed that the special task force 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. – The Vibes, October 28, 2022
