Govt To Form Rci Pursuant To Thomas Book Probe

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The cabinet has agreed with a proposal to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry after reviewing proposals made by the special task force that probed former attorney-general Tommy Thomas' memoir.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, however, said the RCI will have a broader scope than the task force's recommendations.
The probe into Thomas's book 'My Story: Justice in the Wilderness' was initiated by the previous Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration over allegations of misconduct by the former attorney-general.
In a statement today, Azalina said the government took a serious view on allegations of professional misconduct by those in high office.
"This is because transparency and accountability are the basis of the people's trust in the administration of justice and institution of government," she said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman SaidAs such, she said the RCI's scope will not be limited to the task force's recommendations and seeks to both find the truth and come up with proposals for reforms in the legal institution.
"It is not to find fault with any quarters," she said.
She said further details on the RCI, such as who will be a member of it, will be revealed at a later date.
Recommendations
The special task force was set up in December 2021 and was headed by former Sarawak attorney-general Fong Joo Chung.
Thomas' memoir covered his stint as attorney-general from 2018 to 2020. Among others, he addressed the appointment of judges, alleged interference by the executive in the judiciary, and claims of selective prosecution.
The task force had recommended that Thomas be probed for sedition and breaking government secrecy laws.
The task force also suggested that Thomas himself interfered in judicial appointments.
READ MORE: Key task force recommendations after Thomas' book probe
It also made recommendations for institutional reforms, such as making the Judicial Appointments Commission free from the influence of the prime minister - a proposal that was also made by the Conference of Rulers last November.
Ismail Sabri, in the prelude to the 15th general election, had asked BN to use the report as political ammo.
Meanwhile, Thomas is seeking to strike down the report, arguing that the task force was an "illegal body". - Mkini

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