PUTRAJAYA will not submit any other names for the position of attorney-general, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as the Malay rulers prepare to gather for an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday over the matter.

The Pakatan Harapan chairman said the government’s decision to name Tommy Thomas as the new attorney-general was done according to the law.

“Under the federal constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has to act (to appoint the A-G) on the advice of the prime minister.

“So we are holding to that principle,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference which was livestreamed by Berita Harian today from Alor Setar.

Dr Mahathir said it was not right to question Thomas’ impartiality over his past links with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Thomas had represented the finance minister in several of his cases over the years.

“He has been a lawyer for everybody. He had also acted for Barisan Nasional. Lawyers take cases that give them some income,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also touched briefly on the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, which had declared that the A-G would come from the ranks of the elected representatives.

He said it was a suggestion and it could be implemented later.

“Efforts are being made to resolve this problem and it will be of no benefit for me comment further now,” he said.

These were the prime minister first words on the matter since The Malaysian Insight broke the news yesterday that an impasse had developed between Putrajaya and the palace over the appointment of the new A-G.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) Sultan Muhammad V had rejected Thomas for the position. It is understood that the Malay rulers want a Malay-Muslim for the job.

Today, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced the Malay rulers will have an emergency meeting on Tuesday to resolve the impasse. Invitations for the meeting had been sent two days ago.

There are nine rulers and a simple majority among them will resolve the matter.

Legal experts and critics, including former minister Rais Yatim, have said the federal constitution does not require the A-G to be a Malay-Muslim and that the YDPA can only make the appointment on the advice of the prime minister.

The PH government had written to the YDPA to remove A-G Mohamed Apandi Ali and replace him with Thomas, believing that his appointment will send the signal that the government is serious about institutional reforms.

This will also ensure that a skilled lawyer will be handling high-profile cases in the chambers, including the prosecution of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

Thomas’ nomination for the post was a unanimous decision by all four PH component parties – PKR, DAP, Bersatu and Amanah. – June 3, 2018.