KUALA LUMPUR – Solicitor-general Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh will be the new attorney-general effective September 6, following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent.
Terrirudin will be taking over from Tan Sri Idrus Harun, whose contract ends on September 5, according to a statement by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
The appointment is carried out in accordance with Clause (1) Article 145 of the federal constitution.
It was reported that Terrirudin, 54, was the Federal Court’s chief registrar before being appointed solicitor-general in March last year.
There are several ongoing high-profile corruption cases, including those of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Lim Guan Eng.
Appointments of attorney-generals have been courting controversy since Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s term (2002-2015). Gani, in 2015, said investigators had enough information to prepare a charge sheet against then prime minister Najib relating to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal.
However, Gani was soon removed due to “health problems” and replaced with former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
Apandi was removed when Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 general election and came into federal power. He was criticised for classifying the investigations into 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd as “no further action”.
He was replaced by senior lawyer Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, who later resigned in February 2020. Thomas’ appointment courted controversy as he once represented Malaysian Communist Party leader Chin Peng.
Former Federal Court judge Idrus was appointed attorney-general in 2020. Certain quarters had called for his resignation, citing failure to act on the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal. – September 1, 2023