Tommy Thomas heads to a courtroom in Kuala Lumpur. — File photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has described the contents on accountability in the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and the Judiciary in the book ‘My Story: Justice in the Wilderness’ as ‘nonsense’, and has given assurance that he would act in accordance to the law against any effort to belittle the legal body and the Judiciary.
He claims that these contents in the memoir by former AG, Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, are aimed at insulting and are mala fide, as well as tarnishing the integrity and reputation of legal institutions and legal officers.
“After studying the contents and the essence of the book diligently, I was also taken aback and felt that many aspects in the book were ‘nonsense’, especially when touching on the question of accountability, transparency and impartiality of legal officers working in the AGC and courts in every corner of the country.
“As a former legal officer in the judiciary in the 1980s as well as a former member of the Judicial and Legal Service Officers’ Association (JALSOA), I believe that each legal officer always holds fast to the key principles of the law,” he said in an open letter to legal officers and the Judiciary here yesterday.
Takiyuddin said by holding fast to these principles, the officers involved would always act within the confines of the law, free from any interference, inducements, pressure, threats or disturbance, whether directly or indirectly from any party.
According to him, the AGC and Judiciary are legal institutions that are always open-minded to all views and suggestions from within and outside, and even criticisms that are constructive.
“This is our attitude that respects the principles of fundamental liberties or fundamental rights that are prescribed in the Federal Constitution. We deem admonitions that are constructive can further raise the quality in carrying out judicial and legal work among our officers.
“However, the admonitions must be made with noble intentions and with reasonable courtesy and responsibility within the limits of the law,” he said.
Takiyuddin further underscored that the judicial process could not be implemented well, smoothly and effectively without the support of legal officers in the AGC and courts, as well as legal practitioners in the private sector.
He said integration and cooperation between these three sectors could ensure that law and justice could be upheld in society.
Apart from that, he said he was confident that capability, commitment, dedication, expertise and honesty of legal officers in legal bodies and the judiciary was beyond question.
Takiyuddin said each task carried out was based on the law whether expressly or being implied, and never according one’s own wishes – and certainly far from trying to gain popularity with any party.
“As such, I give the assurance that the government would always monitor and act according to the law against any effort to belittle the legal body and the Judiciary. The principle of the rule of law must made the guideline for each individual or group in making any decision and consideration. Everyone is bound by the law; no man is above the law; and everyone, whatever his condition or rank is, is subject to the ordinary laws of the land,” he said.
Takiyuddin also urged the legal officers in the AGC and Judiciary to continue carrying out their tasks with determination and in high spirits as entrusted to them to uphold justice and the sovereignty of Malaysian laws ‘without fear or favour’.
On Wednesday, the JALSOA executive committee had issued a statement strongly objecting Thomas’ writings about the legal officers in the AGC in his memoir, saying that the contents insulted its members while the day before, former Solicitor-General III Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria had lodged a police report against Thomas for allegedly defaming him in the book, and urged the police to investigate the former AG. — Bernama
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