Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik will issue a notice of action against lawyer Khoo Chye Beng for his alleged defamatory statements made at a Gerakan Penang  press conference yesterday.

He is also planning to send a similar letter to state Gerakan legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh for allegedly defaming him by publishing his private letter to Khoo, asking the latter to continue representing his client.

NONE At a press conference today, Ng ( right ) claimed he was merely defending a citizen who needed his help and had no malice or intention of threatening Khoo in any way.

Khoo, who almost broke down in tears during the press event, had discharged himself from representing Tan Eng Hai, who was involved in a dispute over family properties.

Tan, 61, a salesperson, who had lost a substantial amount of money in the share market, had his bankruptcy discharged in January last year.

According to Ng, the lawyer failed to submit Tan's documents in time, resulting in latter facing another legal suit in the family dispute.

He said he was hoping that the lawyer could continue representing Tan. "He was in a very difficult position because he cannot get a lawyer in such a short time," Ng told a news conference at his service centre today.

Komtar rep abused position?

"This lawyer had even accepted the legal fees of RM5,000 on Apr 26 last year, which meant that he had accepted the case," Ng, the state DAP secretary, added.

This means that he should defend his client until all avenues are exhausted, not to simply go to court and discharge himself until told to do so by the client , he stressed.

penang bn press conference khoo chye beng Yesterday, Khoo ( left ) said he had felt "threatened and intimidated" by the strong words in Ng' letter, forcing him to represent Tan "if not something would happen" to him.

Baljit, also a lawyer, had demanded that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng explain why he is retaining such an "insolent and racist" character as his personal aide.

He urged the police to investigate all the reports that have been lodged against Ng over the years since he took office in 2008.

Meanwhile, Ng claimed that he had kicked up a fuss over the matter as Khoo's affidavit in support of his discharge from his duties to Tan, contained "lies".

According to Ng, Khoo had claimed that Tan and his wife brought a "gangster" to his legal firm to threaten him and he had to call in the police for help.

Ng said he had made the request via a letter dated May 21 to Khoo before the court proceeding to discharge him as Tan's lawyer.

"We held on to the last hope that Khoo can maintain Tan as his client. But since the court allowed it on May 24, there is nothing we can do," he said.

"We sent the letter before the court decision. It is the standard comment to say that we will take further action," he added.

"What I meant by that was to take the matter to the Bar Council. We cannot complain to others as they are not related to the legal profession," he said.

Not threat but standard comment

Ng said this was a standard remark used by ‘everyone", including lawyers and civil service departments.

He added it would be very "illogical" to write a formal letter containing a threat to Khoo.

He questioned how a lawyer could read a standard statement and feel threatened by it.

"I can't imagine how a senior lawyer, with about 16 years experience, could shed tears during the press conference. How can he represent others?" Ng asked.

Meanwhile, the man who has been accused of being a gangster turned up at the press conference to deny issuing any threats or uttering any harsh words at Khoo.

The 52 year old PBA contractor - Ooi Ban Aun said he had merely tried to help Tan as he felt something was a-miss in the latter's case.

"I felt something was not right in Tan's case when the lawyer told him not to appear in court. Also, at times, the lawyer himself has been absent from the case," said Ooi.

He was also not aware that Khoo had sought the aid of the police , adding that no one from the force had called him to get his statement.

"When I knew about Tan's case, I tried to help him. I met him at a government department when he was submitting forms and I never knew him before this," he added.