Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali’s term as Attorney-General has been extended for three years until 2021.
The country’s number one prosecutor said he received the confirmation of the extended tenure on Friday from the office of the Chief Secretary.
Apandi, 68, said his second term of service shall commence upon expiration of the first term contract on July 27, 2018.
“The new term will, therefore, expire on July 27, 2021,” he told Bernama via WhatsApp when asked to confirm his extension of service.
“I have served three years and now I am entrusted with another three years.
“Just like the first three years, I will continue to ensure the rule of law in the country and work closely with all the stakeholders in the administration of justice, for peace and harmony of our beloved country,” he said.
Born in Kelantan, Apandi was appointed as Attorney-General on July 27, 2015, taking over from Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail whose tenure was terminated due to health reasons.
He graduated with a Bachelors of Law degree from the University of London in 1972 and obtained his barrister-at-law from the Inner Temple, London, a year later.
He also studied at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London.
Apandi began his legal career as a magistrate at the Magistrates’ Court in Kuala Terengganu in 1973. He was appointed as director of the Legal Aid Bureau in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, in 1975.
He was legal adviser to the Trade Ministry from 1979 to 1982, before leaving to set up his own legal practice.
He had also served as a deputy public prosecutor, High Court judge and Court of Appeal judge.
Prior to being appointed as the Attorney-General, he was a Federal Court Judge.
As Attorney-General, Apandi made his first court appearance on June 30, 2016, when he led the prosecution team in graft cases involving Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and businesswoman Phang Li Koon at the Penang High Court.
He also led the team in the government’s appeal against a landmark court ruling which declared Section 3 (3) of the Sedition Act 1948 as unconstitutional in a case of Sri Muda Assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafie, at the Federal Court on Feb 22, 2017.