FORMER attorney-general Tommy Thomas will be probed over allegations made in his memoir, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

In a statement, the prime minister said an investigation will be carried out, among others, under laws governing sedition, official secrets as well as communications and multimedia.

Sections 124(1) and 203A of the penal code will also be used, he said.

“The special task force is looking into four key areas in the book – against the judiciary, exposing government secrets, abuse of power and negligence, including seditious statements,” said Ismail.

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

“It will be tabled to 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.

The special team is chaired by Sarawak legal adviser and former Sarawak attorney-general Fong Joo Chung while the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department acts as the secretariat.

The team comprises former Sabah state secretary Hashim Paijan and former Women, Family and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Junaidah Kamaruddin.

Other members of the team are former judge and former senior federal counsel Jagjit Singh Bant Singh, lawyers Shaharudin Ali and Balaguru Karupiah, as well as representatives from the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre and the Chief Government Security Office.

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

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

More than 100 police reports about the book have been lodged. – September 30, 2022.