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18 September 2018
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BN cybertroopers up to mischief?
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General Chambers (AGC) denied rumours that AG Tommy Thomas has resigned as reported on an online portal.
When contacted, the AGC refuted the report and said that it was not true Thomas has resigned.
“His resignation is not true. Not true at all,” the contact person told theSun.
The online report quoted a government source on his purported resignation.
“The shock resignation comes more than three months after his appointment to the post,” it said on its report.
“It also comes on the back of criticism against the AGC for dropping the corruption charges against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng over the purchase of a bungalow for below-market price,” read the report.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/09/18/ag-denies-resignation-rumours
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6 June 2018
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5 June 2018
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PETALING JAYA: A non-governmental organisation staged a protest at Istana Negara over the appointment of Tommy Thomas as the new Attorney-General (AG), but only four people turned up.
Pertubuhan Biru Ber “1” Abata Malaysia vice-president Zahlan Haji Ridzuan claimed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, had been pressured into making a decision.
However, Zahlan said since the Palace has announced the appointment of Thomas as the AG, they had to “agree”.
“We have to agree (akur) because we do not want to be labelled as rebellious (derhaka),” Zahlan told the press during the four-men protest on Tuesday (June 5) morning.
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/?p=114432
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Fahmi FadzilVerified account @fahmi_fadzil
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malaysiakini.comVerified account @malaysiakini
Agong agrees to Thomas as AG
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V has agreed to senior lawyer Tommy Thomas being appointed as the new attorney-general and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet fully backs this choice.
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim reportedly met the Agong ahead of the special meeting held by the Conference of Rulers on Thomas’ contentious appointment.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/428296
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4 June 2018
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Malaysian Bar: Impasse in AG appointment violating rule of law
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The Malaysian Bar said today it is “alarmed and deeply troubled” over the reported impasse in the Attorney General’s (AG) appointment.
It said the Federal Constitution states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong must act on the advice of the prime minister to appoint the new AG, to perform his role of a constitutional monarch.
“As a constitutional monarch, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has a constitutional duty to abide by the Federal Constitution, which clearly stipulates that His Majesty must act on the advice of the Prime Minister.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong must therefore appoint the person, as per the advice of the Prime Minister, as the new Attorney General, and end the impasse without delay,” Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said in a statement.
It pointed to the Article 145(1) of the Federal Constitution saying: “The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint a person who is qualified to be a judge of the Federal Court to be the Attorney General for the Federation”.
“The exercise of the constitutional duties by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the appointment of the new Attorney General should not be stifled by extraneous views that take into consideration any criteria that are without constitutional basis, based on irrelevant considerations, or which could be deemed to be arbitrary or discriminatory.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong must perform the role of a constitutional monarch strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Constitution,” George said.
The Malaysian Bar also reiterated that the new AG should be an experienced career lawyer with all-round legal skills and expertise in public law, and be widely regarded and accepted as independent and able to implement law reforms of the Government effectively and impartially.
“It must also be a prerequisite that the new Attorney General possess an unimpeachable reputation and character, integrity, honesty, and sound legal knowledge and learning,” it said.
“Such an appointment would augur well for the many institutional reforms that the Government is introducing to birth a new beginning for our nation.”
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1638027/malaysian-bar-impasse-in-ag-appointment-violating-rule-of-law
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Zurairi A.R.Verified account @zurairi 10 minutes ago
Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal confirms the Conference of Rulers disagree with Tommy Thomas as new Attorney-General, will only discuss issue tomorrow https://buff.ly/2ssMNVl The Rulers also have not agreed to remove the controversial incumbent Apandi Ali.
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Zurairi A.R.Verified account @zurairi 7 minutes ago
Tommy for Attorney-General: Lawyers say Pakatan hasn’t broken GE14 pledge with non-MP nominee https://buff.ly/2sueCN4 The promise 1st needs separation of powers of AG & public prosecutor, & amending the Constitution.
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“they” had problem with Tommy Thomas as AG was probably “they” are afraid he will actually do his job as AG!! Just look at the mining companies & other companies under “them”!! These companies can get away with everything!!
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Malaysia Chronicle @MsiaChronicle 6 minutes ago
‘THAT’S RIGHT DR M, STICK TO THE RULE OF LAW’: MALAYSIANS GIVE PM RESOUNDING SUPPORT FOR REFUSING TO BUCKLE IN TO ROYAL DELAY IN SACKING APANDI, DEMAND FOR CHANGE IN AG PICK
HOURS after Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that he is standing his ground on Tommy Thomas becoming the next attorney-general, Malaysians took to social media in support of the prime minister for his wisdom and progressive thinking.
Many thanked Dr Mahathir for his great work so far, adding that they respect his decision on Thomas.
“That is the way to go. You are our PM. I respect whatever your decision (is). Keep up the great work. Thank you,” said Elsie Low on Facebook.
Another FB user, Naomi Cha, said Dr Mahathir is progressive for choosing a non-Malay-Muslim as A-G.
“A man with wisdom. He knows what to do because he doesn’t want to see Malaysia go backwards.”
Peter Yong said Thomas is the right pick for A-G, as the Pakatan Harapan government needs to implement institutional reforms soon.
“The institutional reform is most urgent at this time. It must take priority over shariah law reform, if any. Tommy Thomas is cut out for institutional reform.”
Malaysian Twitter users, too, lauded Dr Mahathir for insisting that Thomas is the right man for the job.
Some went as far as to say Thomas was brought in to prosecute former prime minister Najib Razak over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
“Tommy Thomas’ tenure is 2 years. By then, Najib should be history. End of story. New PM. New A-G. Bring in Tommy,” said Agni (@pradosam).
Thomas’ appointment as the next A-G is not over by a long shot, as the Malay rulers want a Malay-Muslim in the post.
The Malay rulers will convene a meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue, which has gone viral on social media. There are currently two online petitions – one for and the other against Thomas’ appointment as A-G.
The Malaysian Insight has reported that PH had written to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, asking for the removal of current A-G Mohamed Apandi Ali and replacing him with Thomas, the unanimous choice of the PH government.
However, the palace gave the names of several judges for the A-G’s position.
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/?p=114130
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3 June 2018
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Sarawak Report @sarawak_report
Whispering Campaign Against Proposed AG Smacks of Najib
3 June 2018
‘Beyond ethnicity, serious concerns about choice of Attorney-General’. FMT Reporters
It’s not merely a question of ethnicity, there are other concerns such as a possible conflict of interest, poor command of the national language and lack of understanding about the shariah.
Reservations over the possible appointment of constitutional expert Tommy Thomas as the new attorney-general may have to do with concerns about conflict of interest and problems in dealing with his day-to-day job, more than ethnic and religious factors, according to a highly placed source close to the government.
The source confirmed that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s choice of a non-Malay and non-Muslim as head of the Attorney-General’s Chambers has not sat well with some within Pakatan Harapan (PH).
But it was pure speculation “bordering on lobbying” to suggest that the disagreement had to do with Thomas’s ethnicity and religion, it said.
The source, who agreed to speak to FMT on the condition of strict anonymity, said many had pointed out that Thomas had been part of the legal team for Lim Guan Eng, the current finance minister.
Thomas appeared alongside Gobind Singh Deo when Lim challenged committal proceedings initiated by Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali, in a case linked to the corruption charges against Lim.
He also represented the Penang government under Lim, when the state sued the Election Commission and the federal government to restore municipal elections.
“He had represented Guan Eng. This is a conflict of interest that is direct, clear and obvious,” the source said……
Source: Whispering Campaign Against Proposed AG Smacks of Najib, Free Malaysia Today
Comment
An orchestrated whispering campaign seems underfoot, with anonymous writers and sources crawling out of the woodwork to spin conflicting stories designed to undermine the new Prime Minister’s choice of Attorney General.
The concerted villification bears the familiar hallmarks of tactics associated with the premiership of Najib. It can be deduced, therefore, that Najib and his remaining allies fear or resent the constitutional expert, Tommy Thomas, who has been put forward as a tough corruption-buster for the job.
He is not ‘Malay’ enough; he has not the ‘right sort’ of legal background; he is ‘pro-Chinese’, the sniping goes. This is all old-style, divisive talk to distract from real issues, such as whether the new AG will open a review of the apparent cover-up over the murder of Altantuya and other such dirty episodes from the recent past?
A key player in that apparent cover-up over Altantuya was Najib’s then lawyer Cecil Abraham, whose son Sunil went to school with the present Agong and represented him in a gruesome battle against his own father, the Sultan of Kelantan (who protested at being disregarded by his son as regent). The Agong reportedly calls Cecil ‘uncle’ and the father and son are amongst his known advisors.
Those advisors should be wary, if, as suggested by all the rumour-mongering, this Agong is indeed objecting to the cabinet’s choice for Attorney General, since it presents a glaring inconsistency to voters, who just elected the new government on an anti-corruption agenda. The Prime Minister has proposed Tommy Thomas, who holds a clean and decent reputation, for a two year term to tackle that agenda.
Why should the PM be thwarted when the rulers and previous Agong did nothing in 2015, after the previous Attorney General was marched from his office at gun-point and forceably ‘retired’ from his post by Najib Razak, in order to protect himself from charges over 1MDB? That move was unconstitutional, yet there was not a murmur from the rulers.
Instead, the then Agong tamely appointed a notorious legal crony put forward by Najib, Apandi Ali. Apandi proceeded to conduct himself shamefully, bowing to preposterous excuses from the tainted PM and refusing to cooperate with officers from the MACC and Central Bank, who demanded charges must be laid.
Indeed, just before the election, the present Agong renewed the tenure of that same Apandi, who by then was derided worldwide for refusing to cooperate with law enforcers from the United States, Singapore and Switzerland, seeking to retrieve billions stolen through 1MDB on behalf of Malaysians, who were not being served by their own government.
Only now, when an unblemished and upright senior law officer is being proposed for the job is it being alleged that the Agong and some rulers are making objections on spurious grounds, presumably on the urging of advisors who may themselves be tainted. Given the clear delays, it is time for the Agong to act to dispel such dangerous gossip and end the apparent indecision.
Malaysians voted decisively last month in favour of a clean up. They do not want to have to conclude that people close to previous corrupt ways continue to have undue influence over high-level appointments or that petty excuses and ill-founded objections are being made to keep a corruption-buster out of the post of AG.
Read the story on Sarawalk Report
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syahredzan @syahredzan 12 hours ago
syahredzan Retweeted Wef
He also represented Bank Islam against Khalid Ibrahim when Khalid was the Selangor MB for Pakatan Rakyat in his first team. Like any good lawyer, he has been engaged by all sides.
syahredzan added,
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weehingthong 