Karpal: Bar chief should quit for misrepresenting council
A senior lawyer today called for the resignation of Bar Council chairperson Mah Weng Kwai for making comments that were inconsistent with the council's.
In making the call, Karpal Singh said the council's stand on the recent Anwar Ibrahim appeal was "poles apart" from that taken by Mah.
"I cannot see how Mah can perpetuate his stand as chairperson. If he has any honour, he should resign as he has clearly demonstrated he is no more a fit and proper person to lead the Bar," said Karpal, who is also the DAP deputy chairperson, in a statement.
After the Federal Court dismissal on July 10 of Anwar's appeal against his conviction and six-year sentencing for corrupt practices, Mah, when contacted by
malaysiakini
, said the decision must be accepted by everyone.
He further added that the trial has gone through the due process of law and that the people should respect the court's decision.
Mah, who is also the president of the 10,000-strong Malaysian Bar, added that those who disagreed with the decision could use the ballot box to show their discontent.
His comments evoked criticism from DAP chief Lim Kit Siang and Parti Rakyat Malaysia vice-president and lawyer R Sivarasa who described it as "shameful". Anwar's lawyer, Sankara Nair, also took Mah to task saying the comments were "unwarranted and misplaced".
Prior clearance
Six days later, the Bar Council issued a press statement in which it made clear its stand on the matter which was different from that given by Mah.
In its statement, the council said though it accepts that Anwar's trial has gone through the necessary legal steps, there were still several irregularities in the trial that did not justify the dismissal of Anwar's appeal.
The 36-member council also noted that it found several aspects of the sentence imposed on Anwar to be highly unusual and regretted that the Federal Court had not seen it fit to set them straight.
Karpal also said Mah should not have given any comments on the Federal Court decision without obtaining prior clearance from the council.
"He should not have jumped the gun and in doing so, he has compromised the Bar Council in a serious way."
Karpal also expressed his surprise that the council has not seen it fit to pass a vote of no confidence against Mah.
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