Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said it was an “ambush” by the government as no notice was given to the public, unlike all the hype when the setting up of the RCI was announced in July.
He said a copy of the report was not extended to Mahathir, although he was recognised as an “interested person” by the RCI.
“There is a complete lack of respect and courtesy, as can be expected on the part of (Prime Minister) Najib Razak’s government,” he said in a statement.
Haniff said he was completely astounded that there were references made in the report to purported criminal breach of trust, when in fact the nature of the materials referred to by the RCI fell ridiculously short and were insufficient to reach such conclusions.
He said his legal team would be making a comprehensive comment on the findings after a careful study of the report and after discussion with Mahathir.
Haniff said the nature of the materials referred to in the RCI proceedings were based on hearsay, conjectures, presumptions and assumptions which did not meet any legally acceptable level of credibility.
“What more when the RCI proceedings were conducted with the use of ‘the laws of the jungle’ and the ‘rules of a circus’, it would not come as a surprise if the findings do not even meet the level of a ‘pre-kindergarten product’,” he said.
The RCI convened for eight days from Aug 21 and concluded on Sept 19 after calling 25 witnesses.
Forty-two documents were submitted during the proceedings.
Among the witnesses were Mahathir, former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, former BNM governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former BNM adviser Nor Mohamed Yakcop and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.
The 400-page report was submitted to the king on Oct 13.
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