R Kengadharan also questioned whether the task force had the authority to probe the contents of the former attorney-general’s book.

“Only the police can initiate a probe, which I understand has been done. It will be a useless exercise if done by others,” he told FMT.

Kengadharan said this in response to the statement by law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on Dec 24 that the task force studying allegations in the book, including on the appointment of judges, excessive interference by the executive in the judiciary, and selective prosecution, had held its first meeting a day earlier.

Led by Sarawak state legal adviser and former state attorney-general JC Fong, the task force will submit its findings and recommendations to the Cabinet within six months from the date of appointment.

Kengadharan said there was no point in the task force looking into the contents of the book and that such a probe “will curtail the freedom of expression of citizens as guaranteed in the Federal Constitution”.

Thomas, who served as the attorney-general for 20 months from June 2018, is alleged to have defamed and insulted various parties in the book.

Among those who lodged reports against him were former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali and former solicitor-general III Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.

Then Bukit Aman CID director Huzir Mohamed had said last February that police had received 134 reports related to the contents of the book.

He said investigation papers had been opened for alleged criminal defamation, breach of the Official Secrets Act, and for the tendency to incite the public under the Sedition Act.

Meanwhile, lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo said she and another counsel had accompanied Thomas last year to the police station to have his statement recorded following the reports.

“Thomas had cooperated with the police but we do not know what is the outcome of the investigation,” she added.

Investigation papers are referred to the prosecution division in the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a decision.