Opposition tables bid to remove Apandi as AG
(Malay Mail Online) – The federal opposition has submitted a motion calling for a parliamentary vote of no-confidence against Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Apandi Ali.
The motion was submitted by federal opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on February 25 to the Parliament secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah.
In the motion, she accused Apandi of unlawful conduct in his handling of the investigations on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigations and the RM2.6 billion deposited in the prime minister’s accounts in 2013.
“Tan Sri Apandi Ali without any proper reason dissolved the special task force which at that time was probing well into 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation. The dissolution of the task force has disrupted the investigations on the cases,” Dr Wan Azizah said in the motion.
She also pointed out that Apandi ignored recommendations by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for him to take action against 1MDB for allegedly violating banking laws.
The Permatang Pauh MP further accused the AG of breaching Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution by ordering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to close its investigation on the RM2.6 billion donation.
Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution states that the attorney-general shall have power, exercisable at his discretion, to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence, other than proceedings before a shariah court, a native court, or a court martial.
“The above actions from the Tan Sri Apandi Ali has caused the people to lose faith in the institution of the attorney general,” Wan Azizah added.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has yet to respond to the motion but according to PKR whip Johari Abdul, he is confident that it will be debated in this Parliamentary sitting.
The Malaysian Bar today filed for a judicial review of Apandi’s decisions on the same matters, and will discuss a motion calling for his resignation during the Bar’s annual general meeting this Saturday.
Apandi told a press conference in January that he found no wrongdoing in the relation to the movement of funds from a former 1MDB unit and the RM2.6 billion deposited in the prime minister’s personal accounts ahead of Election 2013.