PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Tommy Thomas should cooperate with the task force investigating allegations in his memoir, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       The Umno president said Thomas should be more “gentlemanly” and braver to take responsibility for the contents of his own memoir.

       “He should help to unravel the truth because as a former attorney general he should have better understood that ‘justice’ is about the truth. The people deserve answers to the questions the former AG has disclosed in his book, My Story: Justice in the Wilderness, as it involves the dignity and supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law,” Ahmad Zahid said on Facebook yesterday.

       He added that by cooperating with the task force, Thomas could lead to a better understanding of what happened during Pakatan Harapan’s time in power, including allegations of political interference in the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and in the judicial system during Thomas’ time in office.

       “The unravelled questions even have the potential to answer more questions on what happened after May 9, 2018,” he said.

       On Dec 24 last year, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said a task force would conduct a preliminary study on allegations in Thomas’ book, including on the appointment of judges, excessive interference by the executive in the judiciary and selective prosecution.

       The task force will submit its findings and recommendations to the Cabinet within six months from the date of appointment.

       Thomas, in a letter to the chairman of the task force recently, said he had no intention to cooperate, citing the formation of the task force as unprecedented and potentially jeopardising the independence of the AGC.