So much power in Najib's hands: Ambiga
Published on: Thursday, July 30, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's move to reshuffle his Cabinet has only made Malaysia's current political crisis worse, National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said."What happened breaches every rule that forms the core principles of a democracy," Ambiga said of the Cabinet reshuffle announced Tuesday, which saw Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin being sacked as Deputy Prime Minister and replaced by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi."This is only compounding the crisis, not solving it," she said, adding that Najib now had "so much power" in his hands.
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Najib also appointed seven new ministers and nine new deputy ministers.This is the second reshuffle he had done since the 13th general election in May 2013, and comes at a time when he is facing allegations of transferring state funds into his personal accounts. His brainchild, state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), is also being probed for alleged financial improprieties.Ambiga along with several other NGOs unveiled an "action plan" to save the country from the current crisis by proposing that a "national government" be formed beyond party lines while asking Najib to take a leave of absence.And she warned that if a proper solution is not found in the near future to deal with the situation, the people may even take to the streets to voice their displeasure.
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"Now is the time to find a solution, now is the time to speak up," she stressed.Ambiga also spoke against the termination of Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail.
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There is a constitutional provision when it comes to removing the attorney-general from his post, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said."This provision states that the AG serves at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. What I can tell you is that this is not the process to remove the AG," she said."This is a constitutional appointment and what happened is totally unacceptable and unlawful," she said.Ambiga said the removal of the chief public prosecutor was also completely unprecedented, and that Gani did not know anything about it prior to the announcement. She said Gani has never complained about his health, and that there was no reason for his termination considering his contract was going to run out in October."We know it's not a resignation, it's a termination. We do not know for sure who removed him," she said.Lawyers For Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen said the position of the AG is governed by the Federal Constitution.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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