Thomas hits back at Annuar over Chin Peng barb

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 28 Nov 2019 4:39PM · 6 Comments

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas says his involvement with Chin Peng was as a lawyer servicing a client and has nothing to hide. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 28, 2019.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Tommy Thomas today said he had represented hundreds of people when he was in private practice, including former communist leader Chin Peng.

He said Chin Peng had the right to hire lawyers to fight his case in the courts here.

“I acted for the late Chin Peng in 2008. I was counsel along with Raja Aziz Addruse, while Chin Peng also had a solicitor on record.

“Even Chin Peng is allowed to hire lawyers in Malaysia for legal proceedings.

“Raja Aziz, his solicitor and I met Chin Peng in Bangkok to discuss his case and to take instructions.

“There was a dispute about the Hat Yai Accord,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini today.

Thomas was reacting to Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa’s insinuation that he played a part bringing back Chin Peng’s cremated remains to Malaysia two months ago.

Yesterday, Annuar asked if Thomas had used his position to advance the interests of his former client.

“Is Annuar suggesting that I have used my current position as the attorney-general to facilitate the return of Chin Peng’s ashes?

“Let me remind him that such remarks can be construed as defamatory,” he said.

Thomas said that it was the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition that entered into negotiations with Chin Peng and the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) in 1989.

“Talks were initiated by the BN government under Dr Mahathir Mohamad, led by former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor who was then the Special Branch chief, and the treaty was signed in 1989.

“If Chin Peng was considered such an evil man, why did the Malaysian government negotiate with him and sign an agreement with the CPM?

“The government honoured the agreement and allowed former CPM leaders, such as Rashid Maidin and Abdullah CD, to return to Malaysia but not Chin Peng.

“So, what is wrong with Chin Peng taking the matter to court and hiring Malaysian lawyers to represent him?” he said.

Thomas said he had also written an obituary for Chin Peng when he died in 2013, which is public knowledge.

On Tuesday, a group of former Chin Peng comrades said they had brought back his ashes from Thailand on September 16 and had scattered them on the same day.

The Home Ministry is investigating whether his ashes had been smuggled into the country without the proper clearance.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed said yesterday the police are also investigating the group under Section 504 and 505(b) of the Penal Code, as well as Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act.

Section 504 and 505(b) deal with insults intended to provoke a breach of peace and statements likely to cause public fear, while Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act deals with improper use of network facilities. – November 28, 2019.

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Comments

  • Why bother replying to lawless UMNO warlords who dont understand justice and play with sentiments To hide their own crimes?

    Posted 6 years ago by BC Lim · Reply

  • If only Umno leaders knew what was law, they would Not haVe lost in GE14.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • We have BN Annuar and PKR Annuar, please be clear in your headlines or title of articles.

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

    • PKR has Anwar. Are you refering to this "Annuar" in PKR? If yes, please brush up on what spelling is.

      Posted 6 years ago by J R · Reply

  • Anwar Musa is uneducated. In his lifetime he will not be able to achieve anything -he has become irrelevant.

    Posted 6 years ago by Picket Pocket · Reply

  • The real danger to the government of the day are those in the civil service and the PDRM Special Branch who appear to act like black hands who do not seem to realise that they should not waste their resources chasing the ghosts of a dead Communist and who appear to delay the investigations into missing persons. It would be a good idea if the proposed IPMC Act include provisions which deal with enforcement personnel who act with impunity against public policy and the law and who put ordinary folk in fear of being detained without legal basis and in a covert fashion. These are the real threats to the law abiding citizens of our vountry.

    Posted 6 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply