DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has criticised attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali’s classification of the US Department of Justice (DOJ)’s latest suit against 1MDB as being “politically motivated”, calling Apandi “the most political attorney-general”, for allegedly usurping the powers of the cabinet.

“The decision whether the US, or any other country, has been 'politically motivated' in taking action, whether legal or otherwise, which is prejudicial to the national interests, should be made by the cabinet and not by the attorney-general.

“Apandi has (thus) exceeded his powers and jurisdiction as attorney-general, and usurped the powers of the cabinet, and, in particular, that of the foreign minister,” Lim said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Apandi described the DOJ suit as "political in nature" because he believed the DOJ based its actions on information provided by a “handful of Malaysians”, rather than by his office. 

Lim said this is despite former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman, the nation’s longest-serving, coming forth to explain that the DOJ was under no obligation to consult Malaysian authorities because its investigations are confined to its jurisdiction - the US.

Talib also pointed out how Apandi had refused to work with the Swiss attorney-general when the latter asked for cooperation to investigate a former 1MDB subsidiary - SRC International...