The Malaysian Insight

TOMMY Thomas has been the target of sniping and rumours since he became attorney-general three months ago.

Just a few days ago, someone wanted to verify information that he had quit as the government’s top legal officer. He rubbished the claim and moved on, knowing that not everyone favoured his appointment and the poisonous cocktail of disdain, suspicion, and envy would lead to venomous attacks against him.

Imagine his surprise this afternoon, however, when he was inundated by a flurry of callers saying that a news site had posted an article reporting his sudden resignation as the attorney-general.

Thomas told The Malaysian Insight: “That is absolutely inaccurate. I am still the attorney-general. The reporter should have made an attempt to verify whatever information he received.”

He is right. The competition to be the first and to have exclusives is pretty severe with so many new sites fighting for a share of eyeballs. That said, nothing hurts a publication or portal more than earning a reputation for pushing out fake or inaccurate news.

The portal has retracted the story and apologised.

Sadly, the slate cannot be wiped clean.

It is likely that the “story” of the attorney-general’s resignation was planted with the aim of starting a new narrative on his longevity in this role.

The report was aimed at destabilising Thomas and creating the perception that he is facing so much internal resistance from within the system that he had to throw in the towel.

So is Thomas facing hurdles in his role as the attorney-general? Definitely.

Those who want him to fail include individuals and groups who are invested in the status quo and those who believe that certain positions in the government must be held by Malays.

Is he likely to walk away as the attorney-general before his two-year term is up? Unlikely.

Thomas was brought in by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his friends after GE14 to clean up the 1MDB mess and prosecute the main players in the world’s biggest kleptocracy. The job of prosecuting the alleged culprits and recovering the billions of ringgit are in full flow.

We can’t see Thomas leaving until the main players of 1MDB are behind bars.

Between now and then, expect the sniping and attacks against Thomas to continue and even intensify.

Why? Because he represents reform, and not everyone in Malaysia wants change. – September 18, 2018.