LETTER | The C4 Center congratulates Tommy Thomas on his appointment as attorney general but reminds him and the public that the work of the Attorney-General’s Chambers is not only pivotal for seeking justice in outstanding corruption scandals but also for longer-term reforms.

We hope that Thomas and the C4 Center are of the same mind in the need to pursue justice over 1MDB, and looking ahead, the implications for a law that enables greater public or parliamentary oversight over government-linked companies and government-linked investment funds.

We also need a separation of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Thomas’ very own office. The questionable refusal of the previous attorney general indicates that it is high time we follow the lead of every other country to separate the role of government counsel and public prosecutor into two separate offices.

We must not forget that many other scandals still deserve prosecutable attention, such as Felda’s questionable purchase of PT Eagle High Plantations, the kickbacks in the Scorpene submarine purchase
and now someone must answer for the revealed ‘Pipeline to nowhere’ costing RM9.4 billion.

We stress that the Official Secrets Act needs to be repealed and replaced with a Freedom of Information Act that narrowly specifies what can be a secret. We can no longer afford to see such “red files” and hidden attorney general reports shielding corruption from the light of day.

We need a clear Public Asset Declaration Law which compels spouses of all ministers and members of Parliament to also declare their assets. While we do not expect every spouse to be as saintly as Siti Hasmah, we certainly cannot afford another Rosmah who unashamedly lives in the lap of luxury.

At the very least, we need a review process that can compel the AGC to carry out prosecution in matters of public interest, like 1MDB.
We need a proper Political Financing Law so that money politics and the usage of caretaker government resources for partisan gain during elections can be stopped once and for all.

We are in no doubt that Thomas will have the utmost dedication and work ethics as the government’s top counsel and prosecutor. We hope that such ardour will be directed not only at finally putting the sprawling 1MDB issue to rest but also to safeguard Malaysia from such internal predation ever again.

We look forward to working with him in the dawn of our New Malaysia, where ethnicity does not simply trump capability and that we can move forward together as one nation united.

The writer is executive director, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, a policy advocacy, non-profit organisation.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.