FOLLOWING three weeks of heated debate, the King finally consented today to Tommy Thomas’ appointment as attorney-general, a move the veteran lawyer’s legal associates and friends said was “unsurprising”.

From his schooling days to his illustrious career as a top lawyer, Thomas has always been a straight shooter, said a former classmate from the Victoria Institution public school in Kuala Lumpur.

Former journalist Rajan Moses, who is now communications adviser for Sapura Energy, said Thomas’ name had inevitably cropped up whenever senior posts in the legal sector needed filling.

“There had been rumours even before the 2013 election. He was mentioned in some circles to have A-G potential,” he said.

Rajan and Thomas were in VI from 1964 to 1968.

Rajan said Thomas was a “bright spark” in school who had been singled out as the one who would make an impact in the world.

“One thing about him is that he’s a straight shooter. He always took a stand, never wavered and stuck by his opinions. He’s very straight,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Thomas was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1952. He attended the Pasar Road English School and later read law at the University of Manchester, graduating in 1973 to become a barrister at Middle Temple, UK, the following year.

He studied International Relations at the London School of Economics, securing an M.Sc. in 1975 and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1976.

In recent years, Thomas has taken several high-profile cases, acting as legal counsel for Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was then the Penang chief minister. Thomas also  represented the PAS government in Kelantan in a 2014 suit against Petronas over oil rights. 

He also represented the families of passengers on missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

In 2009, he represented Bank Islam Malaysia in a suit filed by then Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Tommy argued in defence of the Shariah Supervisory Council, whose authority and legitimacy Khalid had challenged.

Thomas has published two books, Abuse of Power, and Anything but the Law.

Lawyer Eric Paulsen told The Malaysian Insight Thomas had a fine reputation and the respect of his peers.

“He is very well-respected by both friends and foes in the legal field,” said the Lawyers for Liberty executive director.

“He has more than 40 years’ experience. He’s known for being honest, tough, straight talking and as an extremely competent lawyer.”

More importantly, said Paulsen, Thomas had the integrity and experience to uphold the crucial duties of the  Attorney-General’s Chambers as Malaysia embarked on the road to reform.

“He has been writing extensively on the law and the constitution, on human rights and other current issues that affect the country.

“He doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind, even on controversial issues, and he has a strong sense of right and wrong, and of justice.” – June 5, 2018.