KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Attorney General (AG) Tommy Thomas today said he is considering bringing charges against individuals in the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) who are “throwing a spanner in the works” by allegedly leaking information or sabotaging the agency.
During a special session with participants at the International Malaysia Law Conference 2018, Thomas said individuals still loyal to their previous political masters are still attempting to hinder institutional reforms in the agency.
“I can confirm it is a general problem facing the entire administration, and not just the AGC, as many ministers I have spoken to have brought up the same issue.
“The problem persists as a consequence of one-party rule for six decades,” he said.
He also warned that anyone, including individuals from the general civil service populace, will not be spared if they are found to have leaked sensitive information.
“I think some charges ought to be made for such actions,” he said.
Thomas was referring to media reports stating Malaysia had appointed a Singapore law firm to recover billions of ringgit linked to troubled state firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s monies kept in Singapore under the names of 53 individuals, including fugitive financier Low Taek Jho.
The report dated July 18 stated that Thomas had approved the appointment of Singapore firm Tan Rajah & Cheah to act for the Malaysian government.
Thomas pointed out that those who know him are aware of his obsession with confidentiality up to the point that his own law partners and legal peers were kept in the dark about his dealings.
“It is something I have been telling the Chambers for two months but it seems it has not worked at all.
“However, the problem remains as the lack of evidence becomes an obstacle for me,” he said.
