A-G IMPASSE OVER
IN I am humbled… it’s an awesome responsibility. New Attorney-General TOMMY THOMAS
OUT Good luck in the hot seat. It is not a walk-in-the-park job. TAN Former SRI MOHAMED attorney-general APANDI ALI
KUALA LUMPUR: Tommy Thomas said he felt humbled by his appointment as attorney-general (A-G), which carries an “awesome responsibility”.
When met by media representatives who waited for him outside his law firm’s office at Jalan Ara here yesterday, Thomas was all smiles when congratulated on news of his appointment.
“Thank you very much, but I’d rather not comment until I receive the official letter, which I think will come in a couple of days.
“So, I think it is premature for me to comment, but thank you for showing interest.
“I am humbled but it is an awesome responsibility,” said Thomas.
Thomas was responding to a Bernama report that said that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V had given his consent to the lawyer’s appointment as the new A-G.
Thomas, 66, would take over from Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, who is on a one-month leave.
On whether he would assume his duties as A-G at Putrajaya today, he said it would take at least a few days before that could happen.
“I will not take office tomorrow morning, as I mentioned before. It will take a few days to work out (the process of his appointment).
“What I can confirm is that I am not going to the office (A-G’s Chambers in Putrajaya) today,” he said.
He said he met Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday morning.
Dr Mahathir was among those who had proposed to Sultan Muhammad V for Thomas to be made the new A-G.
“I met the prime minister this morning and I will see him again tomorrow (today).”
When informed that Apandi had congratulated him on his new appointment, Thomas expressed his thanks.