Report: AG on leave prior to retirement, duty taken over by solicitor-general
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — Tan Sri Idrus Harun is reportedly set to retire as Attorney-General (AG) on September 6.
Quoting anonymous sources, The Star also reported today that Idrus is currently on leave prior to his retirement in line with finishing all his pending annual leaves.
Malay Mail is attempting to independently verify this report.
The report stated the duty will now be carried out by Solicitor-General (SG) Datuk Terrirudin Mohd Salleh in accordance with the law whenever the AG is away or the post is left vacant.
Under subsection 376(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the SG shall have all powers of a deputy public prosecutor and shall act as a public prosecutor in case of the absence or inability to act of the AG.
On March 3, the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said that Idrus, whose tenure was extended in 2022 for a year, was reappointed as the attorney-general for six months effective March 6 this year.
The reappointment of Idrus was consented to by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah under Clause(1) of Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.
Under Article 145(1), the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall, on the advice of the prime minister, appoint a person — who was qualified to be a Federal Court judge — to be the AG.
Idrus, who was the former Federal Court judge, was appointed as the AG on March 6, 2020.
He had served as deputy public prosecutor in the AG's Chambers, legal advisor at the Election Commission and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as well as the Solicitor General and Court of Appeal judge.
