RCI on Tommy Thomas can end political prosecution claims, says Umno Youth

 

Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said a RCI on the claims Tommy Thomas had made in his book will clear the air on the issue of political prosecution.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should expedite the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on former Attorney-General (AG) Tommy Thomas’ claims, to help put an end to allegations of political prosecution by the government, according to Umno Youth.

Its chief, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said the issue of political prosecution will come up every time there is a change in government, and if not addressed quickly, it may interfere with efforts to regain political stability in the country.

He stressed they viewed the setting up of the RCI as part of the party’s agenda for institutional reforms, including proposals for the separation of powers between the AG and the public prosecutors, and also between the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.

“The RCI may also strengthen the credibility of the judiciary. As long as there is political interference in the judiciary and prosecuting agencies, there will be political instability,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Supreme Council and Ismail have reached a consensus on a few demands including the setting up of a RCI on the former AG and the claims he had made in his memoir.

Earlier this year, Umno Youth had also called for an RCI to look into the claims in Thomas’ book.

Among them includes his admission to having had discussions with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when both were in office, on the appointments of the Chief Judge, the President of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia and the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Asyraf said, the push for the RCI will not shift the focus of Umno or the government from improving the economy and welfare of the rakyat who are gravely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He is also confident that the reforms to public institutions can bring about more transparency in the government, which will also benefit the opposition.

“I believe the opposition will also feel comfortable when they are no longer pressured for having different ideological beliefs from us,” he said.

He added that Umno also wants the government to address the issue of political donations and the anti-party hopping law.

Asyraf said such institutional reforms must be seen as an urgent requirement at this time in light of several high-profile MACC investigations that have been “silenced”.

“Before this, we brought this proposal to Muhyiddin Yassin but he did not implement them and in the end, there was large-scale party hopping,” he said, referring to the former prime minister who resigned on Aug 16.

He cited a MACC investigation involving former PKR leader, Xavier Jayakumar, whom he claimed had escaped prosecution shortly after he left PKR to become an independent MP supporting the then Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government in March.

In February, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that Xavier was being investigated following the arrest of his officer and good friend, MA Tinagaran, for suspected corruption.

Since Xavier announced his support for Muhyiddin, who is also PN chairman, there have been no updates on the investigation. - FMT