Attorney-general designate Tommy Thomas is not representing Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng with regard to his corruption cases, clarified lawyer Syahredzan Johan.
In a Twitter posting, he said Thomas was acting for Lim in the contempt proceedings filed by former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, which never made it to a hearing.
This was over Lim's comments after he was charged.
Previously, certain quarters such as the Concerned Lawyers for Justice (CLJ) and Young Professionals (YP) had objected to Thomas' appointment as attorney-general on the grounds that he purportedly represented Lim in the corruption cases.
“The proposed appointment of Thomas only serves to perpetuate the notion that this new government has all the hallmarks of the old BN government when it comes to cronyism and abuse of power, as he is Lim's counsel in the ongoing corruption case against him.
“The conflict of interest could not be more manifest,” they were quoted as saying in The Star.
The groups also noted that on May 21, the court had postponed Lim's case as his lawyers planned to file for a review to drop the charges with the new AG on the grounds that their client claimed the charges were politically motivated.
“If Thomas is appointed as AG, he will be put in a precarious position of respecting his office and the confidentiality privilege he has for his client.
“Why would anybody with an ounce of ethics want to place himself in such a position?” said CLJ and YP.
After reported resistance from the palace, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V has consented to Thomas' appointment.
Comptroller of the Royal Household Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said His Majesty had, on the advice of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, given his consent to the appointment according to Article 145 (1) of the Federal Constitution.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also called on all Malaysians to accept that the appointment of the attorney-general should not create religious or racial conflict as every Malaysian should be fairly treated regardless of race and religion,” he said in a statement issued to Bernama. -Mkini
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