PAS: Sensitivity of Muslims must be protected in AG appointment

PETALING JAYA: The candidate for the Attorney-General (AG) post must be an individual who can protect Islam as the religion of the federation, said PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan (pic).

He said that this is important because one of the main duties of the AG was to advise the government, aside from the Yang-di Pertuan Agong.

“Islam is the religion of the federation. The appointment of the Attorney-General must be based on that.

"He must also be seen as someone who can protect Islam as the official religion of the country,” he said in a statement on Sunday (June 3).

The Star in its front-page reported that a proposal by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to appoint top lawyer and Constitutional law expert Tommy Thomas as the AG has sparked a major disagreement with the King.

Essentially, Dr Mahathir is adamant about replacing Tan Sri Apandi Ali, submitting only Thomas’ name to Sultan Muhammad V.

However, the King insisted on more than one name, according to sources close to the royalty.

“The King wants an AG who is able to advise him on Syariah matters too, but Dr Mahathir rebutted that the Solicitor General can handle that job.

“However the King felt that the AG as the top officer should be the one advising him,” said the source.

Nasrudin said the federal government’s candidate for the AG post must be able to protect Islam on behalf of the King.

“It will be awkward if the newly appointed AG, who is a non-Muslim or any individual for that matter, cannot carry out such a responsibility effectively,” he said.

He also noted that the appointment of the AG must reflect the needs of the majority of the country, who are Muslims.

“The sensitivity of Muslims must always be protected. This is to avoid from appointing an AG who has a thinking that goes against Islam,” he added.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s move to reject the proposal to appoint Tommy Thomas as the AG is fully supported by PAS and all the Muslims who prioritise harmony and those who have the utmost respect for the royal institution,” he said.