KUALA LUMPUR: A Perikatan Nasional MP has raised questions about the appointment of Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar as the new Attorney General.
While debating the Supply Bill 2025 in the committee stage in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Nov 13), Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin(PN-Masjid Tanah) said there had been “talk” on the matter.
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“The appointment of the AG has sparked talk as he was the head of the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) Trial and Appeals Division and was involved in the 11 reasons that led to the DNAA of Bagan Datuk (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi),” she said.
She was referring to the 11 reasons provided by Dusuki which led to Ahmad Zahid being granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in the Yayasan Akal Budi case. Dusuki was the deputy public prosecutor in the case.
“Is this because of the 'service' rendered ... this is the talk out there," she said, asking if this "service" was why Dusuki was appointed AG.
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She also questioned if this is what was meant when Datuk Seri Dr Azalina Othman Said spoke about the AG's appointment at an Umno special briefing in 2022.
Azalina, the Pengerang MP and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), had questioned why the AG at the time was not appointed from "one of our own".
Azalina said in other parts of the world, a prime minister would appoint "his own person" to be the AG.
“Is this the result?" Mas Ermieyati asked in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday. “We have to clear this up so there is no negative perception."
Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) then asked Mas Ermieyati if she was making those statements based on hearsay.
“This is not something I can take as your wisdom,” he said.
“As the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) you should not (repeat) hearsay or make malicious statements against Bagan Datuk and Pengerang,” he said.
Shahar also asked for guidance from Deputy Speaker Alice Lau on the matter.
Lau then advised him to file a motion and reminded MPs not to bring up hearsay in the august House.
Dusuki's appointment came into effect on Tuesday (Nov 12).
He replaces Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, who has been appointed a Federal Court Judge.
