KUALA LUMPUR: In a sudden U-turn tonight, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali declined his appointment as an Umno Supreme Council member.
In a series of text messages, the former Attorney-General (AG) said that he made the decision in order to alleviate negative narratives and perceptions linked to his appointment.
"The proper word should be inappropriate. I confirm declining the appointment... after thinking in depth about it," he said tonight.
Apandi added that he sought to avoid "possibly many negative narratives and perceptions" from his past tenure as Federal Court judge and later as a AG.
He declined to elaborate on what the negative narratives and perceptions were.
On whether he was pressured by certain quarters to decline the appointment, Apandi denied it and emphasised that the decision was his own.
"It is strictly my decision after seeking divine guidance... (through performing) Solat Istikarah (a Islamic prayer to seek guidance from Allah)," he said.
Apandi’s appointment and other appointments to Umno’s Supreme Council was announced by the party’s president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier today
Apandi said that he had informed Zahid at 9.20pm tonight over his decision to decline the appointment.
Earlier in the day, Apandi said there should be no issues on his appointment as Umno Supreme Council member as it happened after his tenure as AG had ended.
In a brief telephone conversation, he said that the appointment must be seen in the context of him being able to exercise his fundamental right to association after he left the civil service.
“(Following my being replaced as AG), I am now able to exercise my right to associate with a party (Umno).
The former AG was referring to a person’s fundamental right of association (including political parties) enshrined under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
“A long time ago, I was a member of Umno. But when I joined the Bar Council, I left the party (then),” he said.