Malay rulers visited me over A-G appointment, says Dr Mahathir

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 8 Jun 2018 11:53AM · 8 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has insisted that Tommy Thomas is his only pick for the attorney-general's post. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 8, 2018.

THE majority of Malay rulers were against the delay in Tommy Thomas’ appointment as attorney-general, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He told Malay-language daily Sinar Harian that several sultans had visited him to convey their views on the stand-off.

“Actually, the majority of the rulers did not agree with the (A-G’s) appointment being delayed. Some came to see me to defuse the situation regarding the delay in my swearing-in, and also questioned the decision on the A-G’s appointment.

“But, all this has been resolved on the advice of the rulers themselves.”

Dr Mahathir had suggested Thomas for the post of A-G, but he did not get the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who asked him to suggest more names.

However, the prime minister insisted that Thomas was his only pick.

It was reported that the rulers then planned an emergency meeting to end the impasse.

Some quarters felt that Thomas, who is a senior lawyer and constitutional expert, was not the right person for the A-G’s post as he is not a Malay-Muslim.

Dr Mahathir said the delay in his swearing-in as prime minister following the May 9 polls should not have happened, as the law must be obeyed.

He said most of the rulers did not agree with the delay, and wanted to reach a solution as soon as possible.

“Such things should not happen. We have laws. There is the constitution.

“We have to adhere to the law. We want to go back to ‘the rule of law’. When something happens that is not according to the law, it will cause anger.

“But, I think the rulers are aware of this, and many obey the law.”

The country’s seventh prime minister also talked about his earlier tenure, during which he had established the Special Court for the Rulers.

He said the setting up of the court did not mean he rejected the royal institution, but it was to prevent the people from getting “rebellious”.

Sinar Harian reported him as saying the court was established to preserve the institution’s sanctity.

“We have to be careful. The rulers should not be involved with things that the people do not like. The people have no power, but when they are upset, they will become rebellious.

“So, we have to prevent all this. I do not reject the rulers, but I think that if they do something wrong, we should take action to preserve the sanctity of the royal institution.

“We have laws, and that’s why we have the Special Court for the Rulers.”

The court was established and enforced on March 30, 1993, after Parliament amended Article 182 of the federal constitution, relating to the immunity of the Malay rulers. – June 8, 2018.

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Comments

  • So the hand kisser guy charade is only just a drama to make himself a hero. Pathetic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Mahatir have lots of rest and delegate more to the younger ministers to do the job. Complete your full term to ensure that this country is in good hands and strong on fundamentals going by the rule of law.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • I never trusted the hand kisser, more so after the "Kajang Fiasco". He is a Machiavellian politician .... even manipulating the naive and gullible university students to do his dirty work through the #TURUN (whatever) protests and demonstrations thereby affecting their studies and thus their future.

      Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Yes, the hand kisser was pathetic. Dr M should continue beyond 2020 to make sure that our reforms and foundations are proper and strong..

    Posted 5 years ago by Rosli khan · Reply

  • It is good to have nine instead of just one.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • This is the kind of healthy clarification that places issues in the right context. Veiled threats and suggestions of disrespect gains temporary political
    mileage but builds distrust amongst intelligent and maturing Malaysians, and international observers.

    Posted 5 years ago by Kukananthan Gnanamoorthy · Reply

  • I do agree with 1 comment here, that Dr. Mahathir should have much more time to finish the job he started. As Premier earlier on, he saved Malaysia and many of our jobs during the East Asia Economic Crisis which began in 1997 by imposing capital controls to stop the tremendous outflow of our money which would have made the country "bankrupt". Given his 93 years but still going strong, he needs to delegate tasks to competent professionals who will research and report back for solutions, while taking it a bit easy and relaxing more often. But then he was known in his heyday as PM for always being in such a hurry to achieve his targets. No holding him back if he is to save Malaysia a second time..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Hope Tun will continue after 2020 to complete the Malaysia Baru reform.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Hope Tun will continue after 2020 to complete the Malaysia Baru reform.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply