KUALA LUMPUR – A certain former attorney-general (AG) is currently the subject of an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged interference in judicial appointments.
Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said confirmed this in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.
However, she said the investigation paper (IP) has yet to be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for further action.
The probe was initiated after a report was lodged to the anti-graft body in December, she added.
“Investigation is currently being done by MACC. As of today, the IP has yet to be referred to the AGC for review to see if there is any violation of the law or to charge any individual in court.”
Azalina said this in response to a question raised by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (Besut-PN) on what action has been taken by the government to probe into allegations of interference by a former AG on judicial appointments.
While no name was mentioned, the reply alludes to Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, the former AG who was appointed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during Pakatan Harapan’s time in federal power in 2018.
A special task force investigating his memoir My Story: Justice in the Wilderness had said in its findings last year that Tommy had allegedly intervened in the appointments of top judges during his short stint in office.
The eight-member task force, led by former Sarawak AG Datuk Seri Fong Joo Chung, had recommended the Auditor-General’s Office and other agencies to carry out an audit and appropriate investigation into possibilities of misconduct.
In October, Thomas filed an originating summons to challenge the task force’s findings and sought a court declaration that the report was illegal and a violation of the law.
He also 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.
In January, Azalina had issued a statement stating cabinet’s agreement to the formation of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to look into allegations made by Thomas in his memoir, following recommendations by the special task force probing into the matter.
She had said that the RCI’s terms of commission, members, and duration will be determined by the government on a future date. – The Vibes, March 23, 2023
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