In an opinion piece in Malay daily Berita Harian, Apandi said he had explained major decisions made by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) publicly.
All decisions made by him have been in accordance with the law, he wrote in his column to commemorate his first anniversary as the nation’s top prosecutor.
Apandi expressed his confusion as to why some quarters had taken to criticising him by saying that Malaysia supposedly was without an AG because he does not speak up, especially in the current age of communications with various types of media at his disposal.
“Everything I do is in accordance with the laws of this country. And yet there are those who want to table a vote of no confidence against me in the Dewan Rakyat, calling for my resignation and even wanting to drag me to court,” he said.
He explained in his comment piece that when the AGC decided not to start any proceedings in a certain case, an explanation was given for the decision. and that the decision was based entirely on the evidence in possession.
“This is what I did on January 26, which was to announce the decision based on the overall facts and statements available, I was satisfied that there was no wrongdoing found in three high profile investigations submitted to me,” he wrote.
Although he did not state which investigations he was referring to, it is believed he was alluding to the AGC clearing Prime Minister Najib Razak of wrongdoing, on Jan 26, over a RM2.6 billion ‘donation’ Najib had received in his personal bank accounts and the transfer of funds from SRC International.
Apandi also touched on the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) civil suit against certain individuals said to be linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) last week.
He said he issued a statement a day after the DoJ’s press conference to point out that no criminal charges had been levelled against the individuals involved.
“I also emphasised that the investigations by local authorities were still ongoing and that I would not hesitate to begin proceedings on all individuals involved should there be criminal elements and sufficient evidence,” Apandi said.
The US DoJ filed a civil lawsuit on July 20 seeking the forfeiture and recovery of more than USD1 billion (RM4.06 billion) in assets linked to what it described in a press statement as an “international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated” from 1MDB.
US prosecutors said more than USD3.5 billion in 1MDB funds had allegedly been misappropriated by high-level officials of 1MDB and their associates between 2009 and 2015.
Apandi also cautioned media practitioners to report responsibly, as news published had the ability to affect “the public’s thinking pattern.”
“Lately, I’ve been seeing writings, opinions and reports being made with no integrity and irresponsibly, especially on social media.
“Because of that I would like to remind all parties to adhere to the law,” he warned.
Last year, Apandi, a former Federal Court Judge, was announced as the new Attorney-General taking over from Abdul Gani Patail, whose services were terminated some three months ahead of schedule on medical grounds.
Apandi, 65, was appointed a Federal Court judge in 2013 and was serving in that capacity prior to being made Attorney- General.