Lim Kit Siang launched a scathing salvo on Ismail Sabri Yaakob for allegedly undermining the constitutional position of the attorney-general.
The DAP veteran was responding to the caretaker prime minister’s instruction to Attorney-General Idris Harun to take immediate action against the latter’s predecessor Tommy Thomas over the contents of his book titled, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness.”
“Ismail Sabri is bringing justice in Malaysia back into the wilderness by instructing the AG to prosecute Thomas when under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution, the AG ‘shall have power, exercisable at his discretion, to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence, other than proceedings before a Syariah court, a native court or a court-martial.
“Ismail Sabri should uphold the constitution and not be subverting the constitution as he said in his speech in Bagan Datuk he had instructed the AG to take action against Thomas under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), defamation law and others and that he had declassified the report on the investigation into Thomas’ book so it can be used as political ‘bullets’ to attack Pakatan Harapan,” he added in a statement.
Lim also described the matter as a “clear case of political persecution in the guise of investigation and prosecution.”
“Ismail Sabri is making a mockery of the constitutional independence of the AG with regard to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of any prosecution,” he added.
‘Political bullets’
During a political rally in Perak, Ismail Sabri admitted that he had declassified the reports on Thomas’ book and the Pulau Batu Puteh issue to be used as political fodder against Harapan in the upcoming general election.
The caretaker prime minister described these reports as “political bullets”.
This led former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan to claim that Ismail Sabri’s remarks have “tainted” the probe into Thomas’ book.
"This unprecedented attack on a former AG who charged top-level crooks is an attack on the administration of justice.
"To admit it was to provide political bullets proves bad faith.
"Any investigations are now tainted as this is clearly political persecution," she added.
Apart from investigating him under OSA, Ismail Sabri had also instructed the authorities to determine if the former AG had abused his power and committed sedition.
The police are also investigating Thomas over his remarks at a forum last month, which purportedly contained racial elements. - Mkini
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