KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday said that the Cabinet ministers were undivided in their support for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the issue of the appointment of the new Attorney-General. He said he was confident the issue could be resolved with the wisdom of Dr Mahathir and the palace.
“I understand that there is going to be a meeting of the Conference of Rulers. Perhaps, this can help resolve the issue. As for the Cabinet ministers, we give our undivided support to the Prime Minister,” he said at a press conference after an official visit to Bukit Aman here. Muhyiddin said the Pakatan Harapan leadership wanted to see the issue resolved amicably with the cooperation of all quarters.
He was asked to comment on the issue of the proposed appointment of Tommy Thomas as the new Attorney-General to replace Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali who had been instructed to go on leave. Several news portals had reported that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, did not agree to the proposal of the federal government.
The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, said in a statement on Sunday that the Conference of Rulers would hold a special meeting on the issue at Istana Negara today.
Asked to comment on the delay in forming the full Cabinet, Muhyiddin said he placed full confidence in the Prime Minister in the matter.
“The formation of the Cabinet comes under the purview of the Prime Minister… it could be done this week, not certain about the date,” he said. Asked about the arrest of two high-ranking police officers by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Muhyiddin said the ministry did not intervene in the matter. “Certain agencies and authorities are entitled to act if they have evidence.
The police will give their fullest cooperation,” he said. Bernama reported last Saturday that the MACC arrested two officers of the Bukit Aman Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gambling and Gangsterism (STAGG) and seized about RM1.5 million last Thursday. – Bernama
