[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 21 Aug 1999
Time: 09:46:42
Remote User: -
Malaysia's opposition urges top prosecutor to resign
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (AFP) - A top Malaysian opposition lawmaker Saturday called for the resignation of the attorney general unless he can rebutt allegations of selective prosecution made against him. Lim Kit Siang urged Mohtar Abdullah to resign unless he can rebut police reports made against him by ousted deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
"Mohtar should immediately resign as attorney-general unless he can rebut Anwar's police reports that he had interfered with the course of justice," he said in a statement.
Lim, who is also the secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, said Mohtar had said he had never practised selective prosecution, never abused his constitutional duties and always acted without fear or favour.
On Friday Anwar lodged a police report against Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Mohtar alleging obstruction of the legal process and failing to prosecute a former chief minister and a member of Mahathir's ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
Anwar, once Mahathir's heir apparent, was dismissed last September. In April he received a six-year jail sentence for corruption, and he was returned to the dock in June to face a new charge of sodomy.
Last month, he lodged police reports of corruption against Mahathir and against two senior cabinet ministers.
Mahathir had said he expected Anwar to file "many more reports" with police alleging wrongdoings by himself and other ministers, in an attempt to prolong the sodomy trial until after the elections.
General elections are due to be held next June but Mahathir is widely expected to call a snap poll amid signs of economic recovery.