UMNO lawmaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has come under fire for saying that the prime minister should appoint the attorney-general (AG) from among “his people” to “make matters easier”.
“I don’t care if what I say angers the people but whoever is the prime minister must appoint the AG from his own people,” the Pengerang MP and law and human rights adviser to the prime minister said yesterday (Aug 27), BFM News reported.
Malaysiakini, on the other hand, quoted her as saying: “If the power to change the AG is in the hands of the prime minister, why didn’t he change the AG when this is under his jurisdiction?”
She did not mention names but media reports speculated that she was referring to current prime minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) vice-president Lim Wei Jiet said Azalina’s “true colours” had been revealed, adding that he hopes certain non-governmental organisations (NGO) “realise” this.
UNDI18 co-founder and education director Nur Qyira Yusri agreed with Lim, tweeting: “Terpaling reformis konon. What a regressive stance.”
Taking to Twitter as well, Lim claimed that Azalina was “never really” a reformist, despite statements of hers during former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s time in power indicating otherwise.
Another user remarked: “First they said Tok Mat (UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) is the UMNO reformist, then they say KJ (Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin) is the UMNO reformist.
“After the Sejahtera/KKM (Health Ministry) fiasco, they say Azalina is the UMNO reformist and I wonder who is gonna be next LOL,” he said, adding that “reformist” was a “forbidden” word for the party.
“All for Bossku?”
Some netizens on Twitter recalled a previous statement Azalina made in July 2021 when Muhyiddin was prime minister. She had said at the time that the AG not only advises the Cabinet but also the King.
“All this for Bossku?” asked one Twitter user, referring to since-jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Others also questioned the impartiality of such an AG, questioning their judgment and bias if they were plucked from the prime minister of the day’s close circle.
“To publicly undermine the separation of powers so belligerently is incredibly harmful to the public’s trust of the judiciary,” added @SyarifahAmin. “Disappointed in her views on this.
“I guess UMNO party blood is thicker than principles,” she remarked.
Another wrote: “I respect Azalina a lot but… so disappointed to know she’s just like one of them UMNO dumbheads.”
One commented: “And I thought they have to work FOR the people.”
Some feigned shock, saying the former de facto law minister was merely “dancing to the tunes” of UMNO delegates.
“Just look at what is happening to Sabri if you defy the wishes of the majority,” wrote one user, referring to reported calls from a faction of UMNO calling for the prime minister to be fired from the party if he does not call for early polls.
Azalina yesterday explained that the AG is accorded “tremendous power” under the Federal Constitution, including the power to prosecute or drop criminal charges against any person.
“This is why it remains the norm for other democratic countries to appoint their nation’s top legal officer from the ranks of the ruling coalition or supporters,” she claimed, Malay Mail reported. “If we look at the history of any democratic nation, any change in the AG follows the will of their leaders.”
Azalina added that the recent sentencing of Najib would “not be the last” among UMNO leaders, and blamed this on current AG Tan Sri Idrus Harus (although she did not mention him by name). – Aug 28, 2022
Main photo credit: The Star
