A task force investigating revelations in former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ book “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness” is expected to submit its final report in June, said de facto law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“The interim report has been presented by the special task force (to me) today. The final report will be prepared by the special task force and will be submitted for the cabinet’s consideration to decide the next course of action.
“The special task force is expected to complete the final report by the end of June 2022.
“The government is very committed to studying the issues relating to the country’s legislation and judiciary, and the formation of this task force is one measure to improve Malaysia’s justice system,” the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) said in a statement today.
The statement makes no mention of the interim report’s findings.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the task force’s formation in October last year, along with two other task forces.
He said the task force will investigate, among others, “investigate Thomas' claim about the abuse of power in the appointment of judges, excessive executive interference in the judiciary, selective and political prosecution and breach in the oath of secrecy”.
According to Wan Junaidi, the cabinet agreed on the taskforce’s terms of formation, membership, and terms of reference during a meeting on Dec 22, 2021.
The task force is chaired by former Sarawak attorney-general and state legal advisor Fong Joo Chung. Other members are former Sabah government secretary Hashim Paijan; former Women, Family and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Junaidah Kamarruddin; former judge Jagjit Singh Bant Singh; lawyers Shaharudin Ali and Balaguru Karuppiah; and government representatives Farah Adura Hamidi and Mohd Najib Surip.
“The special taskforce held 10 meetings involving discussions and consultations with various related parties such as the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the police, the Judicial Services Commission, Federal Court Chief Registrar’s Office, Finance Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Plantations and Commodities Ministry, and certain individuals from Dec 23, 2021, to April 12, 2022,” Wan Junaidi said.
The minister described the task force’s focus as “fact-finding” on allegations that Thomas made in his book.
“The special task force has conducted a comprehensive observation and analysis of the book based on the terms of reference approved by the cabinet.
“The discussion and consultation sessions enabled these analyses and observations to be tested effectively using documents and information obtained, to ensure the veracity of facts and allegations that arise from former attorney-general Thomas’ book ‘My Story: Justice in the Wilderness’,” he said.
Apart from the task force on Thomas’ book, the two task forces announced by Ismail last October each focused on the death of the firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, and the options for pursuing a judicial review of the Pulau Batu Puteh sovereignty dispute.
The latter task force will also look into the feasibility of suing those found to be “negligent” by failing to pursue a judicial review of the case.
The three task forces were given six months to present their findings and recommendations to the cabinet. - Mkini
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