No one will be spared and there will be no cover-up, according to Thomas

By AFIQ AZIZ / Pic By AFIF ABD HALIM

The probe into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandals will be the government’s immediate priority, said newly-appointed Attorney General (AG) Tommy Thomas (picture).

“The government’s first and immediate priority is all matters pertaining to 1MDB,” Thomas said on his first day of reporting for duty at the AG’s office in Putrajaya yesterday.

The AG said he would initiate both criminal and civil proceedings against the alleged wrongdoers in the courts.

“No one will be spared and there will be no cover-up,” he said, assuring that everybody will be treated fairly, equal before the law.

The AG’s Chambers would also contact its counterparts in the US, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Singapore, among others, to extend Malaysia’s full cooperation and assistance to the countries in all matters related to 1MDB.

“We will extend our full cooperation and assistance to them in all matters related to 1MDB, with the objective of returning to Malaysia the billions stolen from taxpayers,” Thomas added.

Meanwhile, Thomas said he is also looking forward to repealing oppressive laws, as part of his main priority in reforming the justice institutions.

“The government has announced the end of the Goods and Services Tax and Anti-Fake News Act 2018.

“But, the list of such laws is pretty long and the chamber has to take steps to repeal them either in whole, or in part, or on an urgent basis,” he said.

He added that the AG’s office will independently study the international obligations undertaken by the previous government — such as contracts with other countries — to ascertain if the deals are lopsided, or against the interest of Malaysia.

Last month, the government scrapped the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail and Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 projects, while the future of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is still uncertain.

Separately, in order to uphold the separation of power and avoid conflict of interest, Thomas said he is looking forward to fulfilling the government’s wish in separating the AG and public prosecutor roles.

He said, however, the processes would need some time to be materialised.

Thomas will be Malaysia’s AG for two years from June 4, 2018.