Bar Council president Christopher Leong should debate with Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over the Sodomy II case, said Communication and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Shabery ( right ) argued that it is because Leong made "nonsensical (tidak munasabah)" statements on the Federal Court’s decision to uphold opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's conviction.

If the Bar Council president agrees, the minister vowed to organise the debate.

"Ask the Bar Council if they are willing to accept this, and then we can organise the debate anytime.

"We can think of the best approach, venue, duration, rules and so forth," he told reporters.

Shafee, who was the prosecutor, had embarked on a roadshow to explain the case, where he drew flak for revealing salacious details based on the in camera evidence by complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

PAS parliamentarian Hanipa Maidin previously said that he wanted to debate with Shafee over the matter while Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli wanted to take on Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Bar should have protected judiciary

Shabery said Leong as Bar Council president should have protected the country’s judiciary instead of encouraging political conspiracy claims.

 

“If he still believes that the sodomy case is a political conspiracy, then he must bring forth his arguments on why he thinks as such.

“This is not about determining whether Anwar is guilty or otherwise as that has been decided. But the Bar Council must answer as to how the case was actually executed."

Leong (left) , a day after Anwar’s conviction, said there were "glaring anomalies" in the sodomy charge against Anwar which fuel the perception that he is a victim of persecution.

On a separate matter, Shabery said changes at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is not to cut cost but to increase staff productivity.

The adjustments, which involve a number of part-time staff also involves the restructuring of its news department, with the dissolution of its crime and entertainment desks.

The move had affected more than 100 RTM staff, including part-timers who had to wait for more than a month for payment.

Some had to resort to delivering pizzas and selling coconuts to make ends meet.