Does race, creed matter for best doctor, accountant?

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Ambiga Sreenevasan Questions Relevance of Race and Religion for Professional Appointments

Prominent lawyer and president of the National Human Rights Society, Datuk Seri Ambiga Sreenevasan, has raised questions about the relevance of race and religion when selecting professionals, specifically referencing doctors and accountants. Her remarks come amidst a controversy surrounding the government's nomination of Tommy Thomas, a non-Malay, non-Muslim, for the position of Attorney-General (AG). Sreenevasan, who is also a member of the government's Institutional Reforms Committee, argued that the criteria for choosing a professional should be based on competence rather than ethnicity or faith.

Sreenevasan highlighted that Tommy Thomas has a history of representing diverse groups across a wide spectrum of legal cases. One notable instance was his legal counsel for the PAS-led Kelantan government in their dispute with the federal government concerning oil and gas royalties. This representation, she noted, was undertaken without apparent objection from PAS, a party whose information chief, Nasrudin Hassan, has asserted the necessity of a Muslim AG to safeguard Islam and the interests of the Muslim majority.

Further clarifying Thomas's professional engagements, Sreenevasan addressed a misconception regarding his role in the bungalow trial involving Lim Guan Eng. She pointed out that Thomas was not representing Lim Guan Eng in the corruption trial itself, but rather in contempt proceedings initiated by the incumbent AG, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali. Apandi is currently on garden leave pending investigations into his alleged complicity in past probes related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.

The government, led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has confirmed Tommy Thomas as its sole nominee for the AG post and indicated it will not propose any other candidate. However, reports suggest that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V has rejected Thomas's candidacy, with purported reasons including his non-Malay, non-Muslim background and lack of judicial experience. The Conference of Rulers is scheduled to convene to deliberate on this AG appointment matter.

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Does race, creed matter for best doctor, accountant?

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