Nazir regrets Thomas’ implication of his father in May 13 riot

 

Nazir Razak has expressed his regret over his old family friend and former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ writing in the latter’s recently published memoir which linked the May 13, 1969 riot to a coup by former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

Taking to social media, the former CIMB Bank Group Bhd chairperson said what Thomas has stated in his memoir My Story: Justice in the Wilderness was purely conjecture and could not be construed as evidence.

"This is pure conjecture on his part. Fifty years on and not a shred of credible evidence has emerged to support this view.

"He relies on the fact that my father was the main beneficiary of the riots and that he must have been in a hurry to be prime minister because he had been told that he was dying,” said Nazir, the youngest son of Abdul Razak.

Nazir stressed that these would not tantamount to “evidence” in any setting much less a legal one.

"Thomas also says he is mystified why the then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman appointed Tun Razak as director of the National Operations Council, yet by all accounts Tunku simply chose to do so by his own volition, determining that it was the best option given the circumstances,” said Nazir.

He added that Tunku also endorsed the appointment of Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman as home minister to support Abdul Razak.

While noted that everyone has a right to their own opinion, Nazir said he has decided to share his differing views as Thomas was, until recently, the highest legal officer of the government.

It is noteworthy that these events took place long before he was even a legal practitioner, Nazir said, and officials serving the government at the time have spoken highly about Tun Razak’s leadership and personal integrity as well as his efforts to bring back peace and stability, institute reforms and reinstate Parliament.

Thomas' controversial memoir detailed, among others, the achievements and failures of the former Pakatan Harapan administration, the planned prosecution of fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho and 1MDB, the attempted extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and the resignation of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Since the release last Saturday, several individuals, including former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, former solicitor general III Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria and former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali have threatened legal action against Thomas.  - Mkini