Tommy Thomas book is inaccurate about AGC officers - bar

 

The Malaysian Bar believes that the alleged incompetence of the officers in the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) as described in former attorney-general Tommy Thomas' memoir is inaccurate.

The bar's president, Salim Bashir, in a statement today, said what was stated in the book, My Story: Justice in the Wilderness by Thomas was his own view and did not represent the opinions of the Malaysian Bar.

He said the bar had good professional relations with various levels and divisions in the AGC and the professionalism of the officers there was very good and commendable.

As such, he said the bar was of the opinion that it was inaccurate to label the whole AGC machinery as incompetent, lacking desire for progress, and not competitive compared to lawyers in the private sector.

“The level of competence demonstrated by AGC officers, especially the deputy public prosecutors and federal counsels in handling a case is something to be proud of and it shows an excellent level of capability on par with private lawyers,” he said.

Salim said if Thomas wanted to criticise the AGC, he should have done so while he was in service, or at least offer more constructive criticism now that he has resigned.

He said, although there were shortcomings among the officers, it was normal in every organisation, either in the public or private sector.

“We cannot make a general summary of the attitude of the officers and lawyers in the AGC.

‘’We (Malaysian Bar) believe many AGC officers are capable of dealing with and prepared to accept constructive criticism aimed at improving themselves,” he said.

Salim said many judges who were now in the top stratum of the judiciary had started their career in the AGC.

These judges were also capable of writing excellent judgments and had precise legal knowledge on par with other judges who served as lawyers before, he said.

Thomas, 69, was appointed as attorney-general to replace Mohamed Apandi Ali on June 4, 2018, when Dr Mahathir Mohamad became the country’s seventh prime minister.

However, Thomas decided to step down on Feb 28, 2020, about four months before his contract ended in June 2020.

As of last Sunday, the police had received 134 reports nationwide and had opened three investigation papers on the contents of Thomas’ book which allegedly insulted various quarters.

Among those who lodged police reports after Thomas launched his book were Apandi and former solicitor-general III Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.

- Bernama