Tread carefully on AG issue, analysts urge GRS

 

Brenndon Keith Soh was appointed as the state AG for a two-year term effective July 11.

KOTA KINABALU: Political analysts believe the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government should tread carefully over the position of the state attorney-general as it could risk negative repercussions to its image.

Romzi Ationg of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said it was “understandable” and “normal” that the new state government probably wanted to be free from the shadows of the previous Warisan-led administration, which named current AG Brenndon Keith Soh to the post.

He said, however, the alleged pressure on Soh to step down from the position could lead the people to perceive this move as a tactic by the GRS government to cement its political position.

“The AG’s position should be free from political influence and be an institution that can act freely to ensure the government will be able to carry out its responsibilities in the best way possible.

“But the effects of this (alleged) pressure are that the present government is seen as not distancing itself from nepotism or the use of political force to ensure there will be no internal resistance – the people want to see a government free from this.

“In this instance, maybe the current AG is seen as pro or favouring another side and must be replaced but if this happens, the people’s trust towards the AG’s institution will also drop,” he told FMT.

Romzi was commenting on a FMT report that pressure was mounting on Soh to step down from his post following the change in government after the Sept 26 state election.

“A smooth transition is needed as the AG’s position is important in assisting the new political leadership,” a source had told FMT.

The source added that GRS – consisting of Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and PBS – would like to pick an AG with whom they were comfortable working with.

On July 24, then Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal announced that Soh had been appointed to the position after obtaining the consent of Governor Juhar Mahiruddin.

Soh, 43, was appointed as the state AG for a two-year term effective July 11. He replaced Zaleha Rose Pandin who had then been appointed a judicial commissioner.

Meanwhile, socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi also charged that the matter must be handled properly, reminding that being in public service, the AG’s allegiance was to serve the state and not any political outfit.

“The position should be beyond politics because the person is a civil servant. Pushing out the current AG whose term is far-off from ending will portray GRS as wanting to dominate all aspects of the state administration,” he said.

Awang Azman said there is no law that constitutes that an AG should be replaced when there is a change of government or chief minister.

He said Soh is not even five months into his position while his term will only end in July 2022, but this perceived pressure to resign made it seem like there was a political agenda at play.

The office of the Sabah AG is a constitutional post. Together with the state secretary, the AG’s office is constituted under Article 11(1) of the State Constitution.

Appointment to the AG’s office is made by the Sabah governor acting on the advice of the chief minister, who shall select for appointment a person whose name is included in a list submitted for the purpose by the state Public Service Commission.

Before tendering his advice, the chief minister shall consult the federal government. - FMT