Today, a Facebook post showed him giving a speech in Bahasa Malaysia to a cheering crowd, although he was reading from a prepared text.

The speech is believed to have been delivered at the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya in conjunction with its Hari Raya celebrations.

Yesterday, former journalist Eddin Khoo, the son of prominent historian Professor Emeritus Khoo Kay Kim, had offered to help Thomas improve his command of Bahasa Malaysia.

Earlier, former minister Rais Yatim had urged Thomas to respect the national language by speaking Bahasa Malaysia more.

“Leaders should speak Bahasa Malaysia out of love and patriotism.”

Commenting on Thomas’ request to speak in English in court when former prime minister Najib Razak was charged in court, Rais said English could have been chosen because there were international media in the courtroom reporting on the case.

An online petition was also earlier initiated, urging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to sack Thomas because of his poor Bahasa.