As Pakatan Harapan is being accused of reneging on its promise to pick an attorney-general from among the qualified MPs, Sepang lawmaker Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said this is not necessarily the case.

Hanipa said although members of the Upper House are addressed as senators or Dewan Negara members, they too are MPs.

This is because the Federal Constitution states that the Parliament comprises both the Lower House (Dewan Rakyat) and the Upper House (Dewan Negara).

“The issue is probably raised due to a misunderstanding or confusion over the definition or composition of the Parliament. Many understood the Parliament to be solely the Dewan Rakyat, which is not wrong but is inaccurate…

“Yes, the Harapan candidate for attorney-general, for now, is merely a lawyer. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be an MP.

“Although he is not a member of the Dewan Rakyat, he can still be appointed as a senator and be counted as an MP; just that he is addressed as a senator or Dewan Negara member.

“But that still counts as an MP. So, to me, Harapan had not reneged on its manifesto,” Hanipa said in a statement yesterday.

Harapan has nominated senior lawyer Tommy Thomas - who is not an MP - to replace Mohamed Apandi Ali as attorney-general. The Malay rulers are set to deliberate this during a special meeting tomorrow.

However, the nomination of Thomas has also drawn attention to a promise on the Harapan manifesto, which pledged that the attorney-general will be appointed from amongst qualified MPs, and will be made a minister and serve as the government’s chief legal advisor.

The post will also be separated from the role of public prosecutor, which will be held by a different person who can act without partisan interest, and will be vested with full autonomy over his prosecutorial powers.

Bersatu strategist Rais Husin, who is a key drafter of the Harapan manifesto, had called for calm amid accusations that Harapan is reneging on this promise.

He reportedly said this is not among the promises Harapan had pledged to deliver within its first 100 days in office, and hence will instead be implemented over its five-year term.

In the meantime, Rais said, Harapan needs to replace Apandi with an attorney-general who is committed to its reform agenda.