PETALING JAYA: Tommy Thomas has resigned as attorney-general, some three months before the end of his contract.
“He submitted his resignation letter to interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad this evening,” a source in the Attorney-General’s Chambers told FMT.
The news comes amid speculation that Muhyiddin Yassin has achieved the majority needed to form the next government, after five days of a power vacuum in Putrajaya following Pakatan Harapan’s break-up.
According to another source, Thomas had resigned because there was a likelihood that Mahathir would not remain as the prime minister.
Thomas was appointed the AG following PH’s victory in the 14th general election, succeeding Apandi Ali.
He became the first non-Muslim and non-Malay to be appointed to the post, which led to brickbats among some Muslim groups and politicians, who were concerned his appointment would affect the status of Islam or the special rights and privileges of Malays.
Earlier this month, Thomas decided to drop charges against 12 individuals accused of having links to the now-defunct group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Muhyiddin, who was then home minister, had responded to that by saying it was his prerogative under the anti-money laundering law (AMLA) to declare any organisation or person to be terrorists. This law contains provisions on terrorism financing and proceeds of unlawful activities.
Muhyiddin had said there were strong grounds for the government to maintain LTTE’s listing as a terrorist group, He said it was a matter under his ambit and not that of the attorney-general.
Thomas has also pursued prosecutions in the 1MDB scandal. He had appointed senior lawyer Gopal Sri Ram as ad hoc deputy public prosecutor to conduct prosecutions in the 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd cases.