Govt told to clear public doubt over new AGs appointment
Malaysians will only cease questioning the credibility of Abdul Gani Patail as attorney-general when there is satisfactory accounting of several key issues by the government, said an opposition leader today.
In a press statement, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang raised a number of questions in response to the government's contention that the opposition should stop questioning the credibility of Abdul Abdul Gani as AG.
Yesterday, de facto Law Minister Rais Yatim said in support of Abdul Gani's appointment that, "There are parties who also question his (Abdul Gani's) personality and this is unfair. A person has to be judged by his performance in his field."
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also asked on Monday that Abdul Gani be given a chance to prove himself and that it was unfair to criticise his appointment without seeing how he performed.
According to Lim, DAP does not doubt Abdul Gani's capabilities as AG but questions his suitability and the propriety and wisdom of the appointment based on his public service record as the head of the prosecution division in the AG's Chambers.
Lim said that a critical question has been raised as to whether Abdul Gani's appointment, effective from Jan 1, would enhance or undermine public confidence in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the administration of justice.
"At this juncture when the system of justice is still in the throes of the battle to restore public and international confidence, will Abdul Gani's appointment as AG be a positive or negative development in this direction?" asked Lim.
"It is time that Rais wake up to the fact that Malaysia is no more in a feudal era but is an open democratic society with increasingly higher standards expected of public servants in terms of accountability, transparency and integrity," Lim added.
Rushed appointment
To reassure the public, Lim asserts that, among others, Abdul Gani has to clear the constitutional controversy surrounding his rushed appointment by Rais prior to obtaining royal consent.
Rais announced the appointment of Abdul Gani last month, but it was not until Dec 7 that royal approval was given.
The opposition leader also called on Abdul Gani to explain the severe stricture made against him by the Federal Court for his conduct in the Zainur Zakaria contempt case and to answer to the police report for corruption lodged against him by Anwar.
Malaysians will only cease questioning the credibility of Abdul Gani Patail as attorney-general when there is satisfactory accounting of several key issues by the government, said an opposition leader today.
In a press statement, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang raised a number of questions in response to the government's contention that the opposition should stop questioning the credibility of Abdul Abdul Gani as AG.
Yesterday, de facto Law Minister Rais Yatim said in support of Abdul Gani's appointment that, "There are parties who also question his (Abdul Gani's) personality and this is unfair. A person has to be judged by his performance in his field."
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also asked on Monday that Abdul Gani be given a chance to prove himself and that it was unfair to criticise his appointment without seeing how he performed.
According to Lim, DAP does not doubt Abdul Gani's capabilities as AG but questions his suitability and the propriety and wisdom of the appointment based on his public service record as the head of the prosecution division in the AG's Chambers.
Lim said that a critical question has been raised as to whether Abdul Gani's appointment, effective from Jan 1, would enhance or undermine public confidence in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the administration of justice.
"At this juncture when the system of justice is still in the throes of the battle to restore public and international confidence, will Abdul Gani's appointment as AG be a positive or negative development in this direction?" asked Lim.
"It is time that Rais wake up to the fact that Malaysia is no more in a feudal era but is an open democratic society with increasingly higher standards expected of public servants in terms of accountability, transparency and integrity," Lim added.
Rushed appointment
To reassure the public, Lim asserts that, among others, Abdul Gani has to clear the constitutional controversy surrounding his rushed appointment by Rais prior to obtaining royal consent.
Rais announced the appointment of Abdul Gani last month, but it was not until Dec 7 that royal approval was given.
The opposition leader also called on Abdul Gani to explain the severe stricture made against him by the Federal Court for his conduct in the Zainur Zakaria contempt case and to answer to the police report for corruption lodged against him by Anwar.
Abdul Gani gained notoriety during ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy and corruption trials. He was alleged to have coerced witness S Nallakaruppan to fabricate evidence against Anwar in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Nallakaruppan, who was Anwar's tennis partner, was charged with illegal possession of firearms which, if convicted, carries a mandatory death sentence.
In striking out Zainur's contempt case, the Federal Court said that Gani should provide "some answers to the allegations of fabrication of evidence".
Abdul Gani was also alleged to have protected International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz from prosecution on five charges of corruption.
Different views
In response to the controversy stirred up last Friday after DAP national publicity bureau secretary Gobind Singh Deo endorsed the appointment of Abdul Gani, Lim said that DAP leaders have since clarified the position.
"The question of Gobind's retraction of his statement as reported by the media does not arise as the DAP allows for diversity of opinions and views," explained Lim.
In a break with the position held so far by the DAP, Gobind, in a surprise press statement on Friday said that Abdul Gani "has got what it takes to be an effective AG".
He also expressed his conviction that the criticism levelled against Abdul Gani in the past should make Abdul Gani more cautious of his role as AG, and perhaps a better candidate for the position.
Gobind does not stand alone on this matter as DAP deputy-secretary M Kulasegaran later supported Gobind's view and added that justice would be better served if the AG was answerable to parliament.
Last Thursday, the 10,000-strong Bar Council reportedly sent a letter to the Prime Minister expressing concern over Abdul Gani's appointment after the KL Bar Committe pushed the council to take a stand on the appointment.
Meanwhile, in a poll conducted by malaysiakini , out of 5,454 voters, an overwhelming 90 percent (4,912 votes) felt that Abdul Gani would not make a good AG.
Only 4 percent (224 votes) found in favour of Abdul Gani while the remaining 6 percent readers voted to wait and see. The poll results are as of 2.25pm on Wednesday, Dec 19.
