AG should resign after ‘humiliation’ by coroner, says Umno Youth

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth has called for the resignation of Attorney-General Tommy Thomas after a coroner’s finding of a prima facie case against him in an application to hold him in contempt of court.

The application arose from an ongoing inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim and was brought by Adib’s family.

Speaking to FMT, Umno Youth leader Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Thomas should resign because of the coroner’s finding.

He quoted a passage from the written decision of the coroner, Rofiah Mohamad, that said there was a prima facie case against Thomas.

“The fact that the court has called him to enter his defence (to the contempt application) and stating clearly that there is a prima facie case against him is already humiliating,” Asyraf said.

Separately, in a Facebook post, Asyraf said Umno Youth appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to consider terminating Thomas’ tenure as AG immediately.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed an appeal against the coroner’s decision to allow the contempt application.

In August, Rofiah had said the family had proven a prima facie case against the AG. “This inquest is a high profile case and is widely covered by the media. So it is fair for the AG to explain himself,” Rofiah was quoted as saying.

In a written explanation of her decision on the contempt application, sighted by FMT, Rofiah said it was inappropriate and subjudice for the AG to take a position on Adib’s cause of death which the ongoing inquest is trying to determine.

The contempt application was taken in July by Adib’s father, Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, who alleged that Thomas was in contempt of court because an affidavit by the AG’s Chambers had stated a cause of death ahead of the coroner’s ruling.

The affidavit was filed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers in support of an application to stop lawyer Syazlin Mansor, who formerly represented the housing and local government ministry, from taking part in the inquest. Syazlin later discharged herself from representing the ministry but continued representing Adib’s family.

Adib, 24, suffered injuries during a riot outside the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya in November last year. He died of his injuries at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17. - FMT