FMT blames source over false report of A-G’s resignation.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas today denied a report that he has resigned from the post.
“Not true. Press statement will be issued shortly,” said Thomas when asked by Bernama, via What’s App, to confirm the report by news portal FMT, that he had resigned.
FMT published the report today quoting a government source saying that the A-G has resigned, following criticism over the Attorney-General’s Chambers withdrawal of corruption charges against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s purchase of a house in Penang below market prices.
However, it retracted the report shortly and apologised to the A-G.
The news portal blamed its source who “confirmed” Tommy Thomas’s resignation as attorney-general (A-G) and subsequently rescinding the claim, but not in time to stop the portal from briefly reporting the matter as fact.
The portal published a retraction of the report that triggered controversy and apologised.
Thomas was also forced to deny the matter.
“The story was based on sources who have since retracted their confirmation.
“We, therefore, withdraw the report unconditionally and apologise to the attorney-general,” the portal wrote by way of explanation.
The portal described the source as from within the government.
It is unclear if there was one source or multiple, as the article alternates between the singular and plural.
The report, published at 1.19pm, has since been removed.
At 1.45pm, FMT published an apology over the report.
Thomas was appointed as A-G after minor controversy over the selection of a non-Malay and non-Muslim for the role.
He was appointed on June 4, replacing Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
Thomas is under no illusion that not everyone wants him as attorney-general, or the reforms promised by the Pakatan Harapan government to succeed.
As such, he is not surprised and unfazed by the backbiting and rumour-mongering, knowing that the Malaysian public views him and the Attorney-General’s Chambers as the front line of reforms.