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KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali sent a demand letter to the Malaysian Attorney General’s Office (AGC), seeking restitution and unspecified damages for his dismissal in 2018.
In the demand letter, Apandi claimed that his dismissal was orchestrated and decided by the then Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamed.
Mr. Apandi is demanding that the AGC respond to his claim for restitution and unspecified damages within seven days from the date of the letter, otherwise he would initiate legal proceedings.
The demand letter, delivered through the Shukor Baljit & Partners law firm, was sent to the AGC on Wednesday (September 30).
Apandi’s lawyer, Baljit Singh, confirmed the matter on Thursday.
In the demand letter, Apandi said that he was appointed attorney general on July 27, 2015, with the consent of the King of Malaysia, for a term of three years. The appointment could only be terminated in accordance with article 145 (5) of the Federal Constitution, he said.
Apandi also said that the chief secretary of the government notified him on April 6, 2018 that the king had given his consent to his re-election as of July 27. He said he accepted reelection in a letter dated May 7.
However, on June 5, Apandi said, he was notified that the king had consented to his dismissal, but that he was never provided with any document proving royal consent.
He claimed that his dismissal was orchestrated and decided by Dr. Mahathir, who had “illegally assumed the power of dismissal.”
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Mr. Apandi, a former Federal Court judge, also claimed that Dr. Mahathir had abused his position and committed misconduct as a public official and embezzlement in public office.
The termination, which Apandi described as illegal, null and void, resulted in the loss of income, allowances and other benefits for three years beginning July 27, 2018, it said.
Malaysian media reported that Dr. Mahathir said in May 2018 that Mr. Apandi had been asked to take 30 days leave from May 15, 2018.
Mr. Apandi, who was born in Kelantan, was appointed Attorney General to replace Mr. Abdul Gani Patail, whose term was terminated for health reasons.
In June 2018, Tommy Thomas was appointed to replace Apandi as attorney general. He resigned on February 28 this year, after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government.
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Former Federal Court Judge Idrus Harun was appointed the new attorney general on March 6.
When asked why he was taking action now, two years after his firing, Apandi said he was exercising his legal right to do so.
“It took me two years to reflect on the possible issues involved and the narratives that led to my dismissal,” he told Bernama.
Simply by exercising my legal rights against an abuse of position and power by the former Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir, by removing me as AG for no valid reason, after an extension of my mandate as AG was granted (with the consent of the king), “he said.
