PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has the support of all cabinet members on his proposal to appoint prominent lawyer Tommy Thomas as the new attorney-general, said Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Bersatu president expressed hope that the A-G’s appointment would be resolved as soon as possible by the palace and the prime minister in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

He said further delays in the appointment would cripple the reform of an important national institution.

“The Council of Rulers will meet (tomorrow) to discuss the matter. Hopefully, that will help resolve the issue. As for the cabinet, we are all behind the prime minister,” Muhyiddin said at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.

“This is a crucial step in matters concerning the enforcement of the law and such. We know full well that there are various issues and big problems we will have to face in the country as we move ahead,” he said.

Muhyiddin said he did not think the matter would drag on and become a crisis.

“We know there are some problems but the new Pakatan Harapan leadership wants the cooperation of all parties in solving issues. That is our hope.”

Thomas, a top lawyer and constitutional expert, has been proposed as the replacement for Mohamed Apandi Ali, whose reputation has been tainted since he cleared former prime minister Najib Razak of wrongdoing in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal and for receiving RM2.6 billion in his personal bank account several years ago.

It was reported that Dr Mahathir believes that Thomas’ appointment would ensure the presence of a skilled litigator in the chambers to handle all high-profile cases, including the prosecution of those involved in the 1MDB scandal.

But the Malay rulers have yet to give Thomas’ appointment the nod, two weeks after Dr Mahathir wrote to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong about removing Apandi, who has been ordered by the new administration to go on garden leave.

Among the objections raised against Thomas’ appointment were him not being Malay or Muslim, raising concerns that he would not be in the right position to advise the government from an Islamic perspective.

Dr Mahathir said yesterday that Putrajaya would not nominate anyone else for the position. – June 4, 2018.