PUTRAJAYA: Newly appointed Attorney-General Tommy Thomas has laid down several top priorities that will be his main focus, including the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)’s financial scandal, on his first day of work.
Thomas was speaking to pressmen after clocking in on Wednesday, stating that the government shall institute criminal and civil proceedings against the alleged wrongdoers in the state fund saga.
“Our first and immediate priority is all matters pertaining to 1MDB and there will be no cover-up. All are equal before the law and no one will be spared.
“Simultaneously, we will immediately contact our counterparts in the United State, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Singapore, and other jurisdictions to extend our full cooperation and assistance to them in all matters relating to 1MDB.
“Our objective is to return billions of the stolen money to the country,” he said at the Attorney-General’s Chambers here.
When asked whether someone would be indicted relating to the scandal, Thomas said he need to study the (investigation) papers which would be provided to him by the chambers.
“As of now, I am an outsider, what I know is based on what I read on public domain and I have no access to any government documents before this.
“I am happy to study and will see the matters with open mind,” he said.
Thomas said the government would also be looking to repeal oppressive laws either in whole or in part based on an urgent basis.
“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad already announced the end of the Goods and Services (GST) Acts and Anti-Fake News Law but the list of such laws is pretty long.
“We (chambers) need time to repeal them,” he said, adding that the chambers would also be independently studying the international obligations undertaken by the previous administration such as contracts with other countries.
“We need to ascertain if they are lopsided against the interest of Malaysia.”
Thomas also assured that selected prosecutions would cease immediately as those who have committed no wrong would have nothing to fear.
“We should not fear the midnight knocks of the policemen but those who break the laws will be met with the full force of the law regardless of their position.
“On my part, I promise to do the right thing that is to tell the truth and enforce justice.
“As guardian of the public interest, I shall take into account the interest and concerns of the public generally, and not be confined to the interest of the executives,” he said.
On a separate matter, Thomas said the chambers also lauded the separate the office of the AG from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, stating that the Malaysian Bar has taken that position for decade.
“That is also my personal position and we will work towards that,” he said.
When asked on the current criticism against his appointment as the AG, he said it is part of the free speech and that he willingly accepts criticism.
“If you value free speech, you must practice free speech and criticism is a part of it.
“I rather listen to criticism rather that praises… please carry on,” he said.
The 66-year-old is taking over from Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, who is on one-month leave.