Baling MP wants RCI to probe ex-AG for dropping graft charges involving Pakatan leaders

KUALA LUMPUR: A Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) must be formed to probe former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas for dropping corruption charges involving 15 Pakatan Harapan leaders, says Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

The Baling MP said that the RCI must be formed to investigate why the charges were dropped when Thomas was holding the AG post and while Pakatan was in power.

"I propose to the government and Bera (Prime Minister) to form an RCI immediately, in order to probe the charges as well as his own book, so the rakyat can know if there are any hidden hands behind it," he said while debating the 12th Malaysia Plan.

The former attorney general’s book, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness” had previously triggered a firestorm of reactions from various sides, including from Umno.

Abdul Azeez said that the RCI could probe whether there were certain individuals who had given orders to charge several Umno leaders, including himself.

"It should be similar to the RCI on Tabung Haji, and we hope that the government can implement this in the near future to address all the questions raised by both sides," said Abdul Azeez.

He expressed disappointment on why there was double standard, as the former AG had dropped corruption charges against Pakatan leaders.

"At that time, we were members of the opposition, and they were in the government. But we respect the decision of the AG and the court, because we have laws and we must respect them.

"Until now, we have been called the 'court cluster' and they have indoctrinated the rakyat to call us that," he said.

On Sept 7, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said that the former Tabung Haji chairman had not been cleared of corruption charges.

The MACC said the statement by Abdul Azeez's counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad that a financial analysis report had freed Abdul Azeez of corruption charges was merely a submission made in the Court of Appeal on Monday (Sept 6).

Abdul Azeez, 55, is appealing against the High Court's dismissal of his application to strike out three bribery charges involving RM5.2mil linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah and 10 money laundering charges involving a total of RM13.9mil, which he was accused of receiving from Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

He is alleged to have committed the offences at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2010, and at Affin Bank, Puchong City Centre, Selangor, on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.

On the money laundering charges, Abdul Azeez was charged with committing the offences in the Klang Valley area between March 8, 2010, and Aug 30, 2018.