Probe into Tommy Thomas is about integrity, not race, Shahril tells Rafizi

SHAH ALAM - Umno Information chief Shahril Hamdan has denied calling for probe into the memoirs of former attorney-general Tommy Thomas had anything to do with race.

He said it is possible that PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was trying to create a perception that Umno is raising the issue as Thomas is not a Malay.

"I would like to insist that even if his name is Taufik, Talib, Tahir and he wrote the same book, he should still be investigated.

"This is a matter of integrity and transparency, not racism," he said in a statement on his Facebook page on Monday.

Sinar Ahad had reported that Umno was allegedly using the issue of investigation into the book written by Thomas to stir up racial sentiments to drum up Malay support.

Rafizi was reported to have said that the matter should not have been raised by Umno as the authorities were probing the case.

Meanwhile, Shahril said that among the issues raised in the book by Thomas were allegations to illustrate the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was the mastermind of May 13, 1969.

"Besides that Thomas is influential and the appointment of judges is made based on his recommendations 'who are knowledgeable about all Federal Court Judges'.

"The death of fireman Muhammad Adib was caused by a fire engine and not because he was beaten as stated by the Coroner.

"If you want to accuse someone of playing on racial sentiments, Thomas is more suitable to be accused of doing that," he said.

However, he said, the government's decision to investigate Thomas and Umno's response to that decision had nothing to do with racism.

He further said the allegations made by Thomas raise questions about the integrity and transparency of the Attorney General's institution under his leadership.

Shahril added that Rafizi has asked for an investigation into the littoral combat ship (LCS) because the matter involved the integrity and transparency of the government.

"The government has disclosed several important reports to the public.

"So what's wrong with Umno bringing up developments on the task force's investigation into Tommy Thomas? Does Rafizi feel that integrity and transparency are demanded only when BN is involved?,” he added..