UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is pushing for the public disclosure of the investigative report on Tommy Thomas’s memoir by the Special Task Force, which was set up to look into claims made in the book about the judiciary. 

Zahid said investigation findings must not be kept under wraps as Malaysians should know thoroughly the details of the former Attorney-General’s “political appointment’‘. 

“The report by the Special Task Force is also important because it has the potential to reveal the issue of selective prosecution that occurred during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.” 

“The book also revealed the possibility of interference in judicial affairs by former Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) for his political interests,” the Bagan Datuk MP said. 

Thomas published his book “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”, in 2021. 

It drew a lot of criticism from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, lawyers, politicians, and the public, with varying accusations of incitement, insult, and slander. 

Police subsequently received more than 100 complaints about the book.  

Last month, the special task force formed to probe allegations of judicial abuses alleged in Thomas’ book identified 19 issues requiring immediate government attention, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. 

“It will be tabled in the cabinet and we will have to decide the way forward,” he said in a statement. 

However, Wan Junaidi did not indicate whether the report would be made public. 

Speaking further, Zahid said that other than disclosing the details of the probe, the government must also set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the disclosure of Thomas’ book. 

“The RCI is very important to the country because it raises questions about political interference in the AGC, judicial and security.” 

“We hope that the recommendation from the current AG that the final report not be made public is just a rumour.  

“We do not want any cover up as some current cabinet ministers are also from the previous Pakatan Harapan government,” he added. – September 29, 2022.