Why won't you help govt probe claims in your book, Najib asks ex-AG Thomas

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken a jibe at former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas for stating that he will not cooperate with the task force investigating allegations in his book "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness".

The former prime minister said Thomas had written to the chairman of the task force, former Sarawak attorney general Datuk Seri Fong Joo Chung, to make his stand clear.

Najib pointed out that it was Thomas himself who made certain revelations in his book.

"You (Thomas) leaked it (the information) yet you make noise when the government wants to investigate," Najib said in a Facebook posting on Thursday (Jan 6).

Najib also posted a portion of what is believed to be the letter sent to Fong, in which Thomas pointed out that his (Fong’s) position as the former Sarawak AG is ranked below the AG.

"Therefore, I am not judged by my peers. The same also applies to two other legal practitioners in your task force and they are way junior to me.

"Since the matter is of obvious public interest, I will release the letter to the media shortly," the letter read, with Thomas as its signatory.

On Dec 24, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced the setting up of the special task force to conduct a preliminary study on allegations in the book, including on the appointment of judges, excessive interference by the executive in the judiciary, and selective prosecution.

The task force will submit its findings and recommendations to the Cabinet within six months from the date of appointment.

The task force was chaired by Fong, while the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department acts as the secretariat.

The team comprised former Sabah state secretary Datuk Hashim Paijan and former secretary-general of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry Datuk Dr Junaidah Kamaruddin, who was also former director-general of the Legal Affairs Division.

Other members are former judge and former senior Federal counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh Bant Singh, lawyers Datuk Shaharudin Ali and Balaguru Karupiah, as well as representatives from the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre and the Chief Government Security Office.