PM will uphold rule of law, separation of powers, says Annuar

 

Communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa says no one can force the prime minister to do something not in line with the rule of law. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will not give in to pressure to go against the rule of law and separation of powers, said communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa.

The Ketereh MP said anybody is free to give their opinion, but Ismail would be firm in upholding integrity and the principle of separation of powers.

“The government is steadfast in prioritising integrity (at all times).

“No one can force the prime minister to do something not in line with the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the integrity of the ‘Malaysian family’ government,” The Star quoted him as saying after the National Day celebrations at Dataran Merdeka.

Annuar said that if people wanted something different from what the government was doing, then “justice is not being done”.

He was asked to comment on a report on the purported resignation of Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said as a special adviser to the prime minister.

Earlier, Azalina confirmed in a Facebook post that she was still Ismail’s special adviser on law and human rights.

This came after Sinar Harian, quoting a source, reported that the Umno Supreme Council member had tendered her resignation from the position yesterday.

Azalina’s statement came four days after she took a veiled dig at Ismail over the retention of Idrus Harun as the attorney-general (AG).

At a special briefing organised by Umno on Saturday after the imprisonment of former prime minister Najib Razak, she spoke about the “wide-ranging and unquestionable powers” of an AG, and that whoever became the prime minister would appoint “one of their own” to the position.

Her remarks drew flak from DAP’s Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin and PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who said they contradicted her earlier calls for reforms in the Attorney-General’s Chambers and proved that Umno and Barisan Nasional controlled civil servants.

Thomas Fann of electoral reform group Bersih also criticised her for the comments and reiterated the need for an independent public prosecutor free of influence from the executive branch of government. - FMT