Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali should come clean on the real reason behind his appointment to replace Abdul Gani Patail as he knows that the decision was not made out of the blue, said former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

“He (Apandi) has in the past admitted as much but the real reason was not known.

“That is what the whole country wants to know. Why was he chosen?” Zaid told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Zaid said that Apandi’s appointment on July 27 came at a very critical time and many people saw it as being done not through a 'normal process'.

His appointment was seen as an abrupt move amid investigations on state-investment arm 1MDB by a special task force which was at the time headed by Gani.

Barely a week in office, Apandi ( photo ) had reportedly ordered the task force be disbanded and the investigating authorities carry out their duties separately.

“In light of all that, his interview would have been more meaningful if he had addressed the real issues,” said Zaid.

“I don’t care whether he supports Umno or otherwise,” he added.

Be more candid

Zaid had through his Twitter account earlier said that Apandi should have been more candid in his interview with online portal The Malaysian Insider.

“Did PM tell him why Gani had to go? What was required of him? Banning the task force? Tell the real stuff,” he tweeted.

Among others, Apandi in the interview had denied claims that he once served as Kelantan Umno treasurer.

Gani was replaced supposedly due to 'health reasons' but in his first public appearance on Nov 3, the 60-year-old had said he was 'doing well' even while still in office, despite undergoing dialysis treatment.