He said the country did not have an attorney-general in office at the moment as Idrus Harun’s tenure had ended (on March 6).
“And yet there is no news on who has been appointed to replace him or whether his service has been extended,” Gobind said while debating the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat.
He said it was crucial that the country has a new AG in office as high-profile cases are currently being tried at courts. The absence of an AG would raise questions on the progress of these cases, Gobind said.
Idrus, 67, a former Federal Court judge, was appointed to the post on a two-year contract in 2020, days after Muhyiddin Yassin took office as prime minister.
Gobind voiced concern over the shelving of an investigation into Muhyiddin for allegedly offering jobs in government-linked companies in exchange for political support.
The case had been shelved by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, being classified as requiring “no further action”. Gobind said the AG should provide an explanation.
He also took the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to task over claims of a “dirty cops cartel” made by former inspector-general of police Hamid Bador.
Gobind questioned why EAIC had submitted its findings to the chief secretary to the government, Zuki Ali, despite finding out that there is a basis to the claims that there are police officers involved with criminal syndicates.
“Shouldn’t the report be submitted to the AG’s Chambers for further action?” Gobind said. “This is the problem, where we have high-ranking officers (Hamid) highlighting issues related to the police force and other institutions. They are being probed internally as the matters raised are confidential. But after that, there will be no action.”
EAIC said last month that the agency was unable to confirm the existence of a “dirty cops” cartel, as claimed by Hamid before his retirement last year.
However, there was basis (to claims) of police officers involved with criminal syndicates, EAIC chairman Sidek Hassan said. He said the findings had been submitted to Zuki.