Staying mum over task force report will cost PH dearly, says analyst

 

PH holding its tongue on the controversy swirling around Tommy Thomas’ book could work against it, say analysts.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan’s refusal to comment on a report by a special task force following its probe into a memoir written by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas will be a costly mistake, says an analyst.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said by keeping silent on the panel’s findings, PH would be giving Barisan Nasional an edge in the run up to the Nov 19 general election.

“If PH keeps silent, Umno will use this against them during their campaigns to show that PH had appointed Thomas for political reasons and had used the AG’s office to pursue their own agenda.

“It would cost them (PH) dearly, especially in terms of their integrity,” said Azmi, as it would put them in a bad light in voters’ eyes.

Azmi Hassan.

Thomas, who was AG when PH was in power, published a memoir in January 2021 that has led to a police investigation into sedition and other offences in line with the recommendations of the panel formed to investigate judicial interference and other allegations in his book.

“Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the government of that day, which was PH,” Azmi told FMT.

Thomas was appointed AG by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad when PH came to power in 2018 and resigned after the coalition collapsed in February 2020.

Mahathir reportedly said he appointed Thomas as he was known to be “impartial” and followed the “rule of law”. However, he said, this was before Thomas’ controversial memoir was published.

On Wednesday, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook dismissed the need for PH to comment on the task force’s report, saying it was up to the authorities to investigate if Thomas had indeed broken the law.

Awang Azman Pawi.

Several Umno leaders, including Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, previously questioned the silence of PH leaders on the findings in the report, including allegations regarding judicial appointments, exposure of government secrets, abuse of power, professional negligence and seditious statements.

Meanwhile, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said PH’s silence might suggest it was unable to rebut the allegations contained in the task force’s report.

“This would tarnish PH’s image but improve BN’s, who can then say their leaders have been selectively prosecuted,” he said. - FMT