Anwar sought audience with king over appointment of A-G
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sought an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last night to resolve the impasse over the appointment of Tommy Thomas as the next attorneygeneral (A-G).
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said this would be among the issues the PKR de facto leader was hoping to discuss with Sultan Muhammad V.
“Yes, it’s true. Datuk Seri Anwar will have an audience with His Majesty tonight (last night) and it is understood that it will be about the polemics of the appointment of the next A-G,” he told the New Straits Times Press.
As of press time, however, no word had been received on the outcome of the audience.
News portal The Malaysian Insight (TMI) had earlier reported that Anwar had met seven rulers, including the sultan of Johor for the second time last night, with the ruler seeking assurances that Malay rights would be looked after despite the appointment of a non-Muslim A-G.
“My duty as a citizen with some influence is to discuss (with the rulers) and give them assurances. What I passed to them was that in 60 years, the royal families had worked with the leadership of Umno and Barisan Nasional.
“Now the situation has changed. But, the Constitution has not changed. The status of Malay rulers has not changed. Matters (such as the appointment of the attorney-general) can be discussed and fleshed out,” Anwar told TMI.
The audience comes after the palace was said to have rejected the proposal that Thomas, an experienced lawyer, be appointed the next A-G, replacing Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
A meeting of the Conference of Rulers has been called for today to discuss the issue.
Anwar told TMI the choice of Thomas as A-G by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad must be respected as it was the prime minister’s prerogative.
“The government’s priority is to carry out a good job. (This) is the prerogative of the prime minister in a democratic system, which must be adhered to,” he said.
However, Anwar, who has twice met Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar over the matter, said it was understandable that the appointment of Thomas has been delayed for nearly two weeks.
He said the sultan of Johor stressed that whoever the attorney-general was, he needed to defend the Constitution, which lays out the protection of Malay rights.
“I did not sense any resistance from him regarding the choice of Thomas,” he said.
“We have to adhere to the constitution. However, there’s nothing wrong with the rulers giving their opinions. So, we should discuss the matter and find a formula, and the best solution.
“The king is allowed to give his views and advice so that the feelings and sentiments of those who want to defend Malay traditions are delivered to the government.
“My feeling is that our wisdom and experience in this case are delivered clearly (to the rulers). We hope that the matter will be resolved shortly.”