Muhyiddin: Cabinet supports Tommy Thomas as AG

(FMT) – Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said the Cabinet fully supports Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s choice of lawyer Tommy Thomas as the new attorney-general (AG) to replace Mohamed Apandi Ali.

He said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government wanted to see the appointment issue settled through the wisdom of the prime minister and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I don’t expect the issue to degenerate into a crisis,” he told reporters after his first official visit to the Bukit Aman police headquarters since his appointment following PH’s victory in the May 9 polls. 

Mahathir proposed Thomas as the new AG after ordering Apandi to go on unrecorded leave.

However, the palace was reported to be against the nomination, insisting on a Malay Muslim to fill the post.

A special meeting of the Conference of Rulers is scheduled at the Istana Negara tomorrow in an apparent attempt to resolve the impasse over the appointment, which the PH government says is a key step in carrying out the process of law enforcement and related matters.

Yesterday, Mahathir said the government was striving to resolve the issue according to the provisions in the Federal Constitution.

Muhyiddin said he did not expect the issue to carry on without reaching a solution.

“We ask that it be resolved speedily,” he added.