KUALA LUMPUR – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has claimed ignorance and pressed for answers from the government over a settlement between the administration and former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali over the latter’s supposed unlawful termination.
The former prime minister said that he was surprised to learn of the settlement reported in mid-April. He questioned why he, as the first defendant in the suit and its main witness, was not informed of such resolutions.
“I was shocked to read the recent news about an out-of-court settlement that was made between the government and Apandi. The terms of the settlement were also kept a secret,” he said in his blog post.
The Langkawi MP claimed he had written to current AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun expressing his disagreement with the settlement.
“I feel the government should not bow down, and that the action to end the services of Apandi had adhered to all procedures and processes and was within the prerogatives of the government,” he added.
Apandi’s termination was done in June 2018 during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister.
Dr Mahathir insisted on his innocence and that Apandi’s removal from office under the then Pakatan Harapan government was done lawfully.
Dr Mahathir said he was dumbfounded as to why the contents of the supposed settlement should remain a secret, saying the people deserve to be privy to such details especially if they involve compensation.
“I see the settlement and possible compensation given to someone who failed to discharge his duties and responsibilities properly as a failure in any given situation,” he wrote in his blog today.
He said that Idrus had during a meeting confirmed that Apandi’s removal was done properly and had managed to fulfil the required criteria, which included gaining the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong’s consent.
“I do not admit guilt and am ready to see Apandi’s claims to be judged in court,” he wrote.
On October 13, 2020, Apandi had filed a suit naming Dr Mahathir and the government as the first and second defendants respectively, seeking, among others, a declaration that the termination of his contract as AG by the former prime minister is invalid.
In his statement of claim, Apandi, who was a Federal Court judge before being appointed AG in 2015, had also sought a declaration that the first defendant (Dr Mahathir) had abused his position (as the prime minister when Pakatan Harapan was in power from May 2018 to February 2020) and had caused a breach of contract between him and the government.
He had also sought a declaration that there was a failure to comply with Article 145 of the federal constitution in his dismissal and that his sacking as AG was unlawful and therefore invalid.
Apandi had sought RM2,233,599.36 in special, general and exemplary damages, costs, and other relief deemed fit by the court.
In their statement of defence filed on November 12, 2020, the two defendants had asserted that the action to terminate Apandi’s contract of service as AG was valid and in accordance with the provisions of the law, and that there was no abuse of power by Dr Mahathir in the matter. – The Vibes, May 6, 2022.
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