Speaking to FMT, he said: “We can’t expect the current AG (Apandi Ali) to commit to the reforms we want. So whoever is appointed must start the process.”
That was the reason a new candidate for the post “must be someone who can deliver on reforms to the structure of the Attorney-General’s Chambers”.
Criticism has arisen in the wake of news reports speculating that prominent constitutional expert Tommy Thomas has been nominated for appointment as Attorney-General. At the same time, there has been growing pressure on Apandi to resign, and also for the new government to terminate his contract immediately.
Rais said: “It cannot be a case of abracadabra and everything happens like magic. We’ve inherited a system and we must follow due process. We hope people can understand that not everything can be done in one day, but we will fulfill our promises”
He acknowledged that Pakatan Harapan had promised that the AG should be appointed from among MPs, and that a separation made of the twin powers of the AG as legal adviser to the government and that of Public Prosecutor.
However, this reform was not part of those promised within the first 100 days. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” he said. The people understand that some promises were to be delivered in 100 days, and others to be carried out within the five-year term of the new government.
Even so due process must be followed, said Rais, who is a strategist for PPBM.
He said that in some cases, the new government could not hold off on filling certain positions because of the needs of the nation, such as the appointment of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Shukri Abdull without obtaining parliamentary approval as had been called for in the manifesto.
Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto calls for the separation of the twin roles of legal adviser and Public Prosecutor, appointment of Attorney-General from among MPs, as a Cabinet minister to advise the government on legal matters.
There have been growing calls for Apandi to resign, after the new government ordered him to take leave. Apandi is on a three-year contract with the government, which was renewed shortly before the general election.
Pressure grows to sack Apandi, lawyers say it’s straightforward