The Malaysian Insight

AFTER news broke that Tommy Thomas was going to be appointed attorney-general of Malaysia, Najib Razak’s friends in Kuala Lumpur started calling around to get the measure of the man.

What kind of a person is he? Is he vindictive? Is he friendly? Is he difficult?

What they were really trying to find out was if A-G Thomas would be open to back-room ‎deals, negotiated settlements and if he had a soft underbelly.

Hope the former prime minister, Rosmah Mansor, Low Taek Jho and their associates are running the ruler through ‎everything that Thomas said at his first press conference as the A-G.

Who Thomas is and what he stands for came through clearly during his first session with the media.

Vindictive?

No, but pit-bull determined. 

Malaysians heard him say how he would go after every one behind the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal. No one would be spared. There would be no special consideration for position or station in life.

His friends have heard this speech or some variation of it many times since the 1MDB scandal became news in 2015.

The words used at those sessions over drinks were often coarser than today but the determination to nail the architects behind what he called the greatest robbery in modern times was evident even then.

He used to be terribly upset that no action was instituted against the alleged culprits in Malaysia, given that Malaysia is the natural jurisdiction since 1MDB is incorporated here and Najib, Jho Low and Reza Aziz are citizens here.

As A-G, Thomas gets to finally put that anomaly right.

So Najib and gang, prepare for a rough ride in court.

But the former prime minister can also take comfort from some other stuff Thomas mentioned at the press conference.

He told reporters that as a “guardian of public interest”, he will take into account the interests and the concerns of the public and not just be concerned about the interest of the executive.

“Conflicts of interests shall cease. Integrity shall be a priority. I shall discharge my duty honestly, fairly, freely, independently and to the best of my abilities” said Thomas, adding that Malaysians no longer need to fear the midnight knock of the policeman.

We have had some embarrassing A-Gs in the last 20 years. They didn’t understand the concept of the separation of powers and behaved slavishly ‎towards the executive. They were so in love with their position that they often spoke and behaved like politicians.

Remember the first sodomy trial against Anwar Ibrahim when the ‎soiled mattress was paraded through the courtroom and a clutch of contradictory “evidence” was presented unconvincingly in court. 

Remember the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case where Najib’s aide, Musa Safri, was not on the witness list despite being the go-between Abdul Razak Baginda and the policemen who murdered the Mongolian.

Najib and friends need not fear being stitched up or finding some dodgy evidence being presented against them.

Thomas belongs to old Malaysia – when doing things right was always more important than doing right by people in power.

Thomas is so thrilled to be the A-G of Malaysia. He is an excitable chap on most days but today he was just so, so happy.

He will be respectful to the prime minister who gave him this opportunity.

But don’t expect him to slavishly follow instructions and directives if it goes against his core beliefs. 

He would rather walk out of the job that ends on June 3, 2020, than be anyone’s stooge. – June 6, 2018.