Attorney-General only takes orders from the Pakatan government

(The Star) – The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) should be independent and not receive instructions from the government, says Ramkarpal Singh (pic).

The Bukit Gelugor MP said that it is elementary that the AGC advises the government and not the other way round.

Ramkarpal was condemning a statement by Solicitor-General III Mohamad Hanafiah Zakariah who said that he receives direction and instruction from the government.

“Hanafiah has forgotten that the AG is independent and prosecutes according to evidence and never is directed, whether by the government or otherwise,” said Ramkarpal in a statement on Sunday (Feb 10).

He added that Mohamad Hanafiah’s stand on this matter is serious.

“It reflects his ignorance of the fact that the AGC is, and was always meant to be, free from government instructions as he is, and will always be, supposed to be impartial,” said Ramkarpal.

He said that Mohamad Hanafiah should resign if he doesn’t understand this, if he is not removed.

“We need independent people on the job. Not those who receive instructions from the government,” said Ramkarpal.

Mohamad Hanafiah had said the AGC would always adhere to government directives and instructions so long as they were lawful and did not go against the Federal Constitution.

Mohamad Hanafiah was responding to criticism surrounding a leaked circular instructing DPPs not to postpone several high-profile corruption cases.

The email circular, which has gone viral, is igniting questions about the independence of the AGC.