PARLIAMENT With former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail appearing healthy in his first public appearance, now there appears a query whether his termination was appropriate.

However, de facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri defended the government's move in terminating Gani's tenure three months earlier than his retirement, saying the decision was done in accordance with laws and regulations.

"I know he appeared at the talk. He is healthy now, but he often went for dialysis back then. He went for dialysis three times a week," Nancy told Dewan Rakyat when winding up Budget 2016.

"That is why we answered it was due to health reasons.

"Most importantly, (the government) followed the laws and regulations," she said.

Nancy ( photo ) was responding to Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) who grilled her on the legitimacy of Gani's termination.

Gobind also asked if the termination was related to the alleged draft of charge sheet against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that was exposed.

When met outside the House, Nancy added that the government wanted an AG who is healthy.

"He is still serving in the AG's Chambers but not as the AG. It is a different role. When he was removed he was not well. We want an AG who is healthy.

"Now, he is no longer our concern anymore, if he says he is going around with the talks...," she said.

Removal came ahead of cabinet reshuffle

Gani was controversially removed from office on July 27, ostensibly due to health issues, just months before his official retirement.

This came just ahead of a cabinet reshuffle that also saw critics of the 1MDB issue removed from office.

He was transferred to the Judicial and Legal Services under the AG Chambers until his retirement on Oct 5.

Since his removal, the whistleblower site Sarawak Report alleged that Gani was on the verge of charging Najib with corruption, or an alternative charge of criminal breach of trust.

This was supposedly for the transfer of RM27 million by former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International into Najib’s personal bank account.

Gani’s successor, retired judge Mohd Apandi Ali, has denied this claim and said the purported draft charge sheet published by Sarawak Report was false, while Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

However, Gani himself has kept mum on the issue despite repeated attempts by reporters, including those from Malaysiakini , to contact him for his response.