19 key issues identified by special taskforce on Tommy Thomas' book

PETALING JAYA: Investigation by a special taskforce into the book "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness" written by former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas has been completed and the final report will be presented to the Cabinet soon.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the taskforce chaired by Sarawak Legal Adviser and former Sarawak attorney general Datuk Seri Fong Joo Chung has identified 19 important issues that require the government's attention following the allegations contained in the book.

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"The final report was prepared after studying various documents and consultation sessions with relevant parties.

"A total of 19 consultation sessions with various stakeholders consisting of government agencies, non-government and individuals were held while the taskforce prepared the report over a period of nine months from Dec 2021 to Aug 2022," he said in a statement on Monday (Aug 29).

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Wan Junaidi informed that the taskforce had presented the report to him during a meeting which was attended by senior officials in the Home Ministry, the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Chief Government Security Office (CGSO).

Early last year, the book received a lot of criticism from various quarters, including the Attorney-General's Chambers, lawyers, politicians and the public for allegedly containing elements of incitement, insult and slander right after it was published.

More than a hundred police reports were lodged against Thomas for the publication.

The special task force 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 is also former director-general of the legal affairs division.

Other members of the team 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 (GIACC) and the Chief Government Security Office (CGSO).