SACKED attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali greeted the appointment of his successor with well-wishes today, hours after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong gave his consent to Tommy Thomas to be the government’s legal adviser.

“Congratulations to Tommy and all the best to him in discharging his new duties as the A-G,” Apandi had texted in a message to The Star.

The impasse over Thomas’ appointment was broken in the early hours this morning with a statement from the comptroller of the royal household, Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, saying that the king had consented to the appointment.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also called on all Malaysians to accept that the appointment of the attorney-general should not create religious or racial conflict as every Malaysian should be treated fairly regardless of race and religion,” the statement read.

Under the Constitution, the king appoints the attorney-general on the advice of the prime minister. 

But the palace had objected to Thomas, who was the sole name given by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. There were concerns about the fact that Thomas was non-Malay and non-Muslim, although the Constitution does not stipulate the race and religion of the attorney-general.

Apandi had been on leave since May 15, with his duties temporarily taken over by Solicitor-General Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek.

Apandi became attorney-general in July 2015, abruptly replacing Abdul Gani Patail, who had been leading a team investigating scandal-ridden state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Thomas’ appointment three weeks into the new Pakatan Harapan government that took federal power in the May 9 election is part of the push to get to the bottom of the 1MDB scandal. – June 5, 2018.