Solicitor-General Ahmad Terrirudin to be appointed as next AG?

SHAH ALAM - Solicitor-General Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh might become the next attorney-general replacing Idrus Harun, whose contract ends next month, sources say.

In a report by Free Malaysia Today (FMT), quoting sources, said senior lawyers and serving and retired judges might be hesitant to take on jobs as they would involve dealing with several high-profile cases.

"At the moment, Terrirudin looks set to take on the post, which is considered a ‘hot seat’," FMT quoted sources as saying.

It was also reported that another source said there is a possibility that Idrus will remain in office until the end of this year.

The 54-year-old Terrirudin, if appointed, will be the first candidate to come directly from the Judicial and Legal Service.

Before being named as solicitor-general in March last year, Terrirudin served as the chif registrar in Federal Court.

Prior to being appointed attorney general in 2020, Idrus served as a judge on the Federal Court.

The report said that Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint the federation’s attorney-general on the advice of the prime minister.

"In essence, it is up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to decide who will be AG-cum-public prosecutor," lawyer A Srimurugan told the news portal.

It added that the legal fraternity and the public will be watching closely for the outcome of deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's representations to have charges brought against him for money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and corruption involving Yaysan Akalbudi funds.

The defence phase of this lawsuit has just begun.

Following his acquittal in a different corruption case involving the foreign visa system last September, Zahid also requested that the prosecution drop its appeal.

FMT further reported that the attorneys for former prime minister Najib Razak also submitted fresh representations last month in an effort to get the prosecution to drop charges brought against him for allegedly embezzling RM6.6 billion in tax dollars through payments to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).

"Najib has also asked the prosecution to withdraw three money laundering charges in which he is said to have accepted the proceeds of illegal activities amounting to RM27 million through three AmBank accounts," FMT said.

Rosmah Mansor, wife of Najib Razak, has also lodged a request that her charges be dropped for money laundering and tax evasion amounting to RM7 million.

FMT reported that her trial before Justice K Muniandy began yesterday after the High Court refused to grant an adjournment pending the prosecution’s review of representations made by her earlier this month.