Sabah Attorney-General (AG) Anthony Roderic @ Manthopil Fernandez, 50, has become the most wanted man in Kota Kinabalu.

Ever since news of his decision to quit his post became public knowledge, members of the legal fraternity and colleagues in the profession have been trying to get in touch with him to find out why.

Sabah Attorney General Anthony Roderic Manthopil Fernandez Fernandez made the decision last Friday not to renew his three-year term of office which expires in May, but word only got out yesterday morning. It is not known when his resignation will take effect.

Sabah Law Association (SLA) president John Sikayun and Sabah Justices of the Peace Council honorary secretary Lawrence Thien were among those who expressed surprise and shock.

“Everybody is trying to get hold of him. We would like to know the real reasons for his resignation. Whatever it is, he must have a good reason for doing so and we respect (his decision),” said Sikayun.

“Of course, we also regret it because we in the SLA have a good working relationship with him as head of the Bar. I know him to be a very hardworking AG.”

Thien concurred, adding that Fernandez was also a dedicated and conscientious state AG.

“His resignation is a loss to the state government but we welcome him back as a member of the Sabah Bar,” said Thien.

chong kah kiat and sabah Fernandez was to have turned up yesterday at the Kota Kinabalu High Court to cross-examine former Sabah Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat (right) , the plaintiff in a legal suit over the aborted construction of the Mazu statue.

Chong’s counsel, Ansari Abdullah, however, informed Judicial Commissioner Yew Jen Kie that there would a change of counsel for three of the defendants. Mohd Hanafiah Kassim from the state AG’s Chambers then confirmed that Fernandez had resigned last Friday.

Ansari said he was only told at 9.30am that the first, second and third defendants would now be represented by lawyer Richard Barnes, while the fourth defendant, the Kudat Town Board, would continue to be represented by the state AG’s Chambers.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman is the first defendant, while former state secretary KY Mustafa and the Local Government and Housing Ministry permanent secretary Ujang Sulani are the second and third defendants respectively.

The case was postponed to May 4 after Barnes applied for an adjournment to go through the documents and issues raised.

Resignation accepted

Details of Fernandez’ resignation letter to the Sabah governor have not been made public, except that he cited personal and family reasons, and had been “thinking about it for quite some time now”. It is learnt that the chief minister has “reluctantly” accepted the resignation.

Lawyers in the know say that Fernandez could still continue as State AG until his term expires in May but in the meantime go on leave. His deputy Josie D Bosie could take over as acting AG pending the appointment of a new state AG under Article 11(1) of the state constitution.

Such appointments are made by the governor acting on the advice of the chief minister, from a list submitted the state Public Service Commission.

“Before tendering his advice, the chief minister has to consult the federal government,” according to a source in the state AG’s Chambers.

Fernandez took over from Mohd Bazain Idris in May 2006. Before that he was mainly involved in civil litigation work and conveyancing. At that time, he told the press that he was happy with the level of confidence shown in him by the chief minister.

A former student of La Salle School in Kota Kinabalu, Fernandez pursued law as an external student of the University of London and graduated on Aug 1, 1981.

He was admitted to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple on Oct 13, 1980 and called to the Bar of England and Wales on July 29, 1982.

Fernandez was admitted as an advocate of the High Court of Borneo on Feb 11, 1983, and became a partner in a law firm on March 1, 1986. He is married to Anna Au and they have four children.