PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has again voiced his disappointment with the government’s decision to reach a settlement with Apandi Ali over the “unlawful sacking” of the former attorney-general (AG).
Citing the judgment in Apandi’s failed defamation suit against DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, Mahathir said it was clear that the former AG had failed to discharge his duties while in office.
He also alleged it showed that Apandi had been complicit in the 1MDB issue.
“AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun should not have backed down and agreed to a settlement and compensation for Apandi,” he said in a statement.
“Aside from taking on Apandi in court, Tan Sri Idrus should have initiated a probe into Apandi.
“I am very disappointed with the decision of the AG (Idrus) to agree to a settlement with Apandi, who sued me and the government for firing him in 2018.”
Apandi filed the suit in September 2020, seeking a declaration that the termination of his services as AG in 2018 by Mahathir was unlawful.
The suit was settled in April, with Mahathir then stating that he was not informed of the terms of the settlement.
Apandi had also filed a defamation suit against Lim after the DAP veteran claimed he abused his power to cover up the 1MDB probe and the money that was transferred into former prime minister Najib Razak’s account.
Najib has maintained that the money was a political donation from the Saudi royal family.
In her judgment, High Court judge Azimah Omar noted that Apandi’s delegation did not meet or speak to the alleged donor despite saying otherwise in 2016 before going on to clear Najib of any wrongdoing.
Azimah also said Apandi had shown disinterest and indifference to elementary rules of law and common sense.
Najib was convicted by the High Court in the SRC International case in 2020 and was sentenced to a 12-year jail term and fined RM210 million.
His final appeal is ongoing at the Federal Court. - FMT
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