Bersih and Pakatan Harapan have been accused of double standards for attacking Azalina Othman Said's opinion that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should have chosen a new attorney-general.
In a statement today, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the Harapan administration had done things to the detriment of the judiciary, namely:
Their "Council of Elders" had demanded the resignation of the chief justice Md Raus Sharif and then Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.
Appointing Richard Malanjum as chief justice. Malanjum would campaign for Warisan and Pakatan Harapan two years later during the Sabah elections.
Replacing Mohamed Apandi Ali with Tommy Thomas as attorney-general. Thomas had publicly acknowledged that he had the support of DAP to helm the position.
Appointing then PKR member Latheefa Koya as the head of the MACC.
"Therefore, Harapan and Bersih still have the gall to urge others to respect the position of attorney-general and the judiciary. They are hypocrites," said Asyraf.
During a special briefing for Umno leaders on Saturday, Azalina told party members that Ismail Sabri should appoint "his people" as attorney-general.
This, the Pengerang MP argued, would make things easier for his administration.
"If the power to change the AG is in the hands of the prime minister, why didn't he change the AG when this is under his jurisdiction?
"I just want to ask this, why can't the AG be changed?" she said to loud cheers from the audience.
Idrus appointed by Muhyiddin
Attorney-General Idrus Harun has been the target of Umno’s ire following the jailing of the party's former leader Najib Abdul Razak last Tuesday.
Idrus was appointed in 2020 by then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Yesterday, Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann told Astro Awani that it would be worrying if Azalina was proposing a change in attorney-general to acquit some people who are currently facing trial.
“The prime minister has the power under the Federal Constitution to change the attorney-general.
“The attorney-general has several roles. Firstly, he is the adviser to the government and secondly, he is the public prosecutor.
“The attorney-general has the power to acquit people facing trial... That is what worries us,” said Fann. - Mkini
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