Ex-Sarawak AG heads task force to probe Thomas’ claims

Sarawak state legal adviser and former state attorney-general Fong Joo Chung is heading a special task force to look into allegations in the book “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness” by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas.

The allegations include abuse of power in appointing judges, alleged interference of the executive body in the judicial system and claims of selective prosecution.

In a statement announcing this today, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said police would also investigate the allegations at the same time.

Wan Junaidi said the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) would act as the secretariat of the committee.

Other special officers will include former Sabah state secretary Hashim Pijan, former director of the legal affairs division Junaidah Kamaruddin, former judge and AGC senior federal counsel Jagjit Singh and representatives from interested ministries and departments.

He said a memorandum on the establishment of this special task force, including terms of reference, members and financial implications, would be tabled for approval of the Cabinet in the near future.

The special task force will be given six months to submit its findings and recommendations to the Cabinet.

Thomas was appointed as attorney-general by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on June 4, 2018 for a two-year term to replace Mohamed Apandi Ali after Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the 14th general election.

He resigned on Feb 28 last year, four months before his contract expired, following the fall of the PH government.

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