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Probe into Thomas' book tainted by PM's 'political ammo' admission - Ambiga
Veteran lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan today said findings of investigations into former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ book have become tainted after caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's admission of intentions to use it as ammunition against Pakatan Harapan.
Ahead of campaigning for the upcoming 15th general election, Ambiga described the attack against Thomas as unprecedented.
Veteran lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan today said findings of investigations into former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ book have become tainted after caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's admission of intentions to use it as ammunition against Pakatan Harapan.
Ahead of campaigning for the upcoming 15th general election, Ambiga (above) described the attack against Thomas as unprecedented.
"This unprecedented attack on a former AG who charged top-level crooks is an attack on the administration of justice.
"To admit it was to provide political bullets proves bad faith.
"Any investigations are now tainted as this is clearly political persecution," said Ambiga on Twitter.
In a rally at Bagan Datuk yesterday, Ismail Sabri admitted that he had declassified the report detailing Putrajaya’s investigation into Thomas’ book so it can be used as “political bullets” to attack Pakatan Harapan.
The Umno vice-president also urged his party machinery to “capitalise” on the findings to attack their rivals in the upcoming general election campaign.
Further, Ismail Sabri said he had instructed Attorney-General Idrus Harun to take action against Thomas under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), defamation law and others.
Ismail Sabri had last week announced the report on the investigation into Thomas’ memoir “Justice in The Wilderness” will be declassified.
He did so three days after Parliament was dissolved on Oct 10.
The investigation was to see if Thomas had breached various laws including the Penal Code, Sedition Act, OSA and the MACC Act.
On a related matter, lawyer Haniff Khatri said Ismail Sabri had clearly made a confession on how he had abused his office to politicise a legal matter.
Touching on the Pulau Batu Putih issue, he stressed that the committee established to investigate the matter had no legal powers.
“In his speech, Ismail Sabri clearly admitted to having politicised a legal matter.
“This is shameful and the new government must rectify the matter,” Haniff said.
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Must of the focus regarding Mohd Fadli Salleh's Facebook posting is on the Education Minister and his Director General. But we are overlooking the real hand of evil in this matter, the role of a cunning politician who will stop at nothing to assure his survival especially with the elections looming. In an earlier posting, I had commented “To most of us, you are that person we citizens have been condemned to have as prime minister and nothing you do seems to dispossess us of that intense regret.” Perhaps through providence, two almost similar issues emerged at the same time which met diametrically opposing response – one the distress expressed by Mohd Fadli Salleh and the other, the Report of the shameless enquiry on Tommy Thomas. In the first, every politician within reach would lend moral support to a young man who dared to openly criticize the national teaching tragedy. Never one to miss an opportunity, Ismail Sabri urged "InsyaAllah, what was depicted in the letter or on social media such as being fired, demoted and so on will not happen. The Education Ministry should listen to feedback from both teachers and society.” Turning to the Tommy Thomas Report, the prime minister made no qualms about using government machinery and a manipulated enquiry to hound the former attorney general for political ends. “The Umno vice-president also urged his party machinery to “capitalise” on the findings to attack their rivals in the upcoming general election campaign”. Further, he instructed AG Idrus Harus to take action against Thomas under every conceivable law. In all this, there was not even the least pretense of addressing the many allegations Tommy Thomas had made about weaknesses and abuses in the civil service – he had criticized the Malay administration and for that, his head had to be served on a platter to Ismail Sabri. Obviously, the prime minister does not listen to feedback from both former AGs and society and not surprisingly, this from a man who spoke to an almost empty United Nations assembly. All the gifts you seem to be suddenly distributing with great enthusiasm will nevertheless remain respect bought at the market place, Ismail Sabri, the general regard people hold of you will stay nailed to the bottom. Perhaps Mohd Fadli Salleh should be appointed Attorney General and Tommy Thomas can become a teacher.
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