Maszlee wades into A-G’s move on LTTE 12, calls for Thomas’ resignation

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Feb 2020 8:13PM · 9 Comments

Ex-education minister Dr Maszlee Malik says Tommy Thomas' decision to drop proceedings against the LTTE 12 is contrary to his role as attorney-general, which is to be the federal government's legal adviser. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 22, 2020.

FORMER education minister Dr Maszlee Malik has called for Tommy Thomas’ resignation as attorney-general over his decision to discontinue criminal proceedings against 12 men charged with allegedly supporting the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Thomas should relinquish his post if he cannot uphold government policy and prioritise national security, Maszlee said in a Facebook post.

The former minister was referring to the home minister’s powers under the law to determine which entities to list on the terrorism gazette. The LTTE has been listed on the gazette since 2014.

“It was not only a wrong decision but the A-G did not take into the account the government’s policy. His decision is contrary to his role as A-G, which is to be the federal government’s legal adviser.

“The A-G must abide by the government’s policies or he should resign,” said Maszlee.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had also responded to Thomas today, saying his ministry had grounds, based on intelligence information and duty to protect the public, to retain the LTTE on the terrorism gazette.

Maszlee said the Home Ministry was right not to remove the LTTE from the country’s terror list.

“The ministry has the prerogative to remove or to include any group as a terrorist group. As long as it is not removed, the decision is still part of government’s decision,” he said.

Thomas, in announcing the decision yesterday, had said that “there is no realistic prospect of conviction for any of the 12 accused on any of the 34 charges”.

Thomas had said the men’s possession of photos of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, deemed a hero to many Tamils, did not sufficiently amount to supporting terrorism.

“Accordingly, in the exercise of my discretion pursuant to Article 145(3) of the federal constitution, I have decided to discontinue proceedings against them with immediate effect,” Thomas had said.

The 12, who include the DAP assemblymen for Seremban Jaya and Gadek, were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) in October last year and charged under the Penal Code. – February 22, 2020.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Dont be stupid, Maszlee! We now have an AG with brain instead of hands for greasing. Obviously, you are sore because the people rejected you and you got sacked. Learn to have a bit more juice up where it counts instead of continuing being a frog in a deep well. Obviously, if possible, we want the Harapan govt to have more forward thinking ministers and heads instead of people like the Home Minister. About time he, too, should be sacked, like you!

    Posted 4 years ago by Amigo sabah · Reply

  • A failed minister making a professional decision not of his field. Is he telling us he possess more information to prove the AG is wrong based in his ignorance on law? He may have an obvious political agenda?

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • AG garners a lot more respect and integrity than home minister and the failed and dumb minister maszlee.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • AG is advising the home ministry to not fall into victim of the sunset clause alright.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Don't some preachers also threaten national security with their preaching that all people on this planet should be of one religion only?

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • With god on hand and villain on another, a government will never function well.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • This minister does not read well or has poor command of the English language. The AG is an adviser to the government so he is advising the government to look at the sunset clause in the act. He is not challenging the s authority. Why we have ministers who do not think before they talk?

    Posted 4 years ago by MUHAMMAD MOHAN · Reply

  • Hes fishing for support in his own coming party elections now. Deep inside still UMNO DNA!! Typical moron.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mat Kilau · Reply