The Malaysian Bar has summoned PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin over statements made in a ceramah more than a year ago.

lingam tape panel meeting 031007 abdul gani patail Acting on a complaint made by attorney-general (AG) Abdul Gani Patail (right ), the Bar's Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board sent a show-cause letter today to Shamsul who is also a practising lawyer.

The letter of complaint from the AG's chambers, a copy of which was made available to Malaysiakini , stated that Shamsul’s statements at a ceramah during the Penanti by-election last May could be interpreted as questioning the credibility of several judges.

Although Shamsul had not mentioned the names of specific judges, the AG had apparently concluded that he was referring to the Court of Appeal judges who had decided on the tussle between Perak's BN Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and his predecessor Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of Pakatan Rakyat.

"The statements made clearly showed that Shamsul had criticised the legal process and the judiciary when the case was still ongoing at that time," said the AG’s letter.

"As a lawyer, Shamsul should be more learned with the legal process of this country and he shouldn’t have made statements for his own political interests."

It was signed by the deputy director of prosecution (operations) Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria on behalf of the AG.

The letter also urged for the board to act against Shamsul according to the Legal Profession Act 1976.

‘Harassment and intimidation’

Shamsul, when contacted, claimed that this was yet another political ploy by the ruling government to harass Pakatan leaders.

shamsul iskandar probed macc 120309 "I think they are trying to harass me. The attorney-general is (mis)using the Bar to get to me," said the fiery 35-year-old ( left ).

"This might be a new strategy for the ruling party to use the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and now the AG’s chambers.

"I treat this as harassment and intimidation to stop me from giving my comments and analysis." 

He added that he does not know why the ruling coalition has been constantly targeting Pakatan this year.

"First they shut down our party newspaper and now they are coming after me," he said.

Calling the charges ‘nonsense’ and the ‘first time the disciplinary board is hauling up lawyers for political speeches’, the politician will nonetheless be replying to the disciplinary board before the Aug 14 deadline.

"Of course, I will fight this. I will fight this all the way," he said.

If the disciplinary board finds merit in the complaint, Shamsul could face either a fine, suspension as a lawyer for a certain period or have himself disbarred permanently.