ALOR GAJAH: Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar should take immediate leave pending police investigations into reports lodged against him over the issue surrounding Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conditional pardon, Khairy Jamaluddin said.
The former Umno Youth chief said the Attorney-General should temporarily step aside to ensure transparency and integrity in the investigation, particularly as any findings by the police could eventually be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-GC).
“The Attorney-General must take leave. He is now the subject of an investigation following the police reports lodged against him.
“When police reports are lodged, investigations must be carried out. If the investigations establish a case, the findings must be referred to the A-GC.
“But the head of the A-GC is the Attorney-General himself, who is now the subject of the investigation,” he told reporters while campaigning for Barisan Nasional candidate for Rembia, Azril Aziz.
Khairy said his call was not for Dusuki to be dismissed, adding that such a decision was the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister.
“I am asking the Attorney-General to take temporary leave. I am not calling for his dismissal.
“Given the statement he issued and the subsequent response from Istana Negara, which I consider very serious, this has now resulted in police reports being lodged.”
Khairy said several police reports had been lodged against Dusuki, including by Umno Youth.
Yesterday, the A-GC issued a statement disputing the validity of Najib’s conditional pardon.
Istana Negara today issued a statement addressing the matter and reaffirming the constitutional authority of the King in granting pardons.
The A-GC’s position drew criticism following the royal statement.
Khairy also questioned the timing of the Attorney-General’s statement, noting that several weeks had passed since the decision on Najib’s conditional pardon.
He said the statement was issued only after Najib had fulfilled the RM50 million payment condition stipulated in the pardon.
“There was a considerable gap of several weeks between the decision and the Attorney-General’s statement yesterday. The statement was suddenly issued only after the RM50 million payment condition had been fulfilled.
“That is why several police reports have been lodged.”
It was reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had asked Dusuki to seek an audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, over Najib’s house arrest.
Anwar said Dusuki should explain the legal issues surrounding the matter, including its implications for Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case.