Indian-origin legal eagle to be Malaysia's new Attorney General

Tommy Thomas, a top ethnic Indian lawyer was today appointed Malaysia's new Attorney General by the king, who appealed to Malaysians to not to "create religious or racial conflict" over the decision, amid protests from Islamic groups against his nomination.

A palace statement said Sultan Muhammad V has approved terminating the current Attorney General Mohamad Apandi Ali and replacing him with Thomas, the first from the minority community to hold the post in 55 years in the Muslim-majority nation.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had recently proposed to nominate Thomas, 66, as the Attorney-General, the official Bernama news agency reported.

The king called on all Malaysians to accept that the appointment of the Attorney-General should "not create religious or racial conflict as every Malaysian should be fairly treated regardless of race and religion."