KUALA LUMPUR: The government will submit a list of members for the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the book 'My Story: Justice in the Wilderness' written by former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the list would be tabled by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to the Cabinet and to obtain the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
"The Cabinet approved the establishment of the RCI. A task force was created but Tommy Thomas took legal action against its members. So the basis of the details contained in the task force may be backed up by the new RCI members who have not yet been appointed.
"I feel that the minister (Azalina) should submit a list of names to the Cabinet to get the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for this RCI to speed up their work," he said after officiating the Makkal Sakti Party's 15th annual general meeting here on Sunday (Sept 10).
Earlier, Azalina said the government had expressed its approval for an RCI to comprehensively examine issues related to the integrity and independence of the country's judiciary and legislation.
The book written by Thomas published in January 2021 caused controversy, where the former AG claimed to have held discussions with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the appointments of the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal and Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak.
Regarding the Makkal Sakti Party's AGM, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman said he would consider giving a senator post to Friends of BN.
He also called on all Barisan component parties and Friends of BN to make the eradication of the urban poor a struggle in support of the unity government's efforts to eradicate poverty.
"The problem of urban poverty is not only an Indian problem – Malays and Chinese also have urban poor so the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) desire to eradicate extreme poverty must have everyone's support because this is a national agenda and not a political agenda," he said.
Earlier, Makkal Sakti president Datuk Seri RS Thanenthiran in his keynote speech requested Ahmad Zahid to consider giving a senator position to one of the party's leaders in appreciation for the spirit of comradeship shown for almost 15 years and also to request for their application to become a Barisan component partner be scrutinised. – Bernama
