Former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim wants the cabinet to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into the appointment of senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to lead the prosecution team in its appeal on Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy II case next week.

This follows the questionable affidavit filed by Shafee in the Court of Appeal's proceeding in the prosecution's appeal of Anwar's Sodomy II charge, which is now under police probe, as well as the use of taxpayers' money to pay Shafee, Mat Zain said.

“In my opinion and on these circumstances, it is difficult for the attorney-general to be neutral or meddle in the investigation against Shafee following the order to investigate the senior lawyer's affidavit, which was issued on Jan 3 this year,” he said in an open letter today.

“Using the example of false evidence, which caused the disorderly and chaotic manner in Anwar's black-eye incident in 1998..., it is wise for the cabinet to make a decision to investigate this allegation (surrounding Shafee's affidavit) through an RCI,” Mat Zain added.

He expressed hope that the cabinet at its meeting this week would make the appropriate decision.

A copy of Mat Zain's open letter was sent to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Finance Minister today, while several copies were sent to several online media including Malaysiakini .

Mat Zain on Dec 15 last year lodged a police report against Shafee on the circumstances surrounding the affidavit the senior lawyer filed a week earlier with the Court of Appeal on Dec 15

The retired top police officer claimed that the affidavit, submitted in reply to Anwar's second application to disqualify Shafee from prosecuting in the Sodomy II appeal, was “tainted”.

'AG Gani too must answer several questions'

This was also reported in Kim Quek's article yesterday that Shafee cannot be allowed to lead the prosecution if there is an on-going investigation against the senior lawyer following the affidavit he filed, and the write also called for several questions to be answered by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail.

After Mat Zain lodged the Dec 15, 2013 police report, he was called to give his statement to the police on Dec 18. However, he declined to give his statement as police were yet to gain the order to investigate from the public prosecutor.

Following that, Mat Zain lodged two more police reports, on Dec 18 and 26 last year, and sent a full report over the matter to then solicitor-general, Idrus Harun, with a copy also send to the prime minister.

The deputy public prosecutor then issued the order to investigate on the affidavit on Jan 3.

However, this was only made known to Mat Zain on May 19, after Anwar had already been found guilty by the Court of Appeal on March 7 and sentenced to five years' jail.