“Prosecutorial discretion or indiscretion and lapses in investigations are live issues at the trial,” said Messrs Shahrul, Hamidi & Haziq in a statement.

“The comments made by the ex-attorney general and carried by Malaysiakini… border on contempt.”

In a Malaysiakini report, Thomas explained why he did not prosecute other individuals who were implicated in the case apart from Zahid.

Testifying in Zahid’s corruption trial last Friday, former Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) administrative manager David Tan claimed he kept a ledger of “ministers, politicians and government servants” who received funds from the company.

Besides Zahid, the ledger allegedly also mentioned former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein and housing and local government minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

The names of former foreign minister Anifah Aman and former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal were also allegedly on the list.

Muhyiddin, Khairy, Hishammuddin, Reezal and Anifah have since denied receiving any funds from UKSB, the operator of the One-Stop Centre in China and the foreign visa (VLN) system.