Anwar Ibrahim's lead counsel Karpal Singh has called on the attorney-general (AG) not to file an appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to acquit and discharge the opposition leader.   

The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament said, as defence counsel he had the right, in light of the evidence, to call upon the AG not to appeal.   

"This trial has been called the mother of all trials in Malaysia and I think three years is a very long time and that it should be stopped for the sake of all," he told reporters when met at his house for the Pongal festival in Georgetown today.

 

On Jan 9, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Anwar on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.  

Despite the plea by Mohd Saiful's father Azlan Mohd Lazim for the AG to appeal, Karpal Singh said as defence counsel he also had every right to call upon the AG not to appeal.   

"Most unfortunate that the matter has come to this extent for Saiful, but I think it is best for the country and all concerned to stop this harassment on Anwar and his family and move on to more important political issues which affect everybody," he said.  

- Bernama