The Bar Council has welcomed the decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to dismiss the suit filed by senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

The Malaysian Bar vice-president George Varughese said the decision has reiterated the council's right to table a motion against Shafee.

"The decision says members have the right to discuss the motion and for the Bar Council to put it up on the website. Shafee has the right to defend (himself) at the annual general meeting," he said.

Asked whether the members could proceed to table the motion and conduct an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on this, Varughese said that would depend on the proposers.

"As for us, the proposal to submit the motion at the AGM was over as there was an injunction. For the matter to be heard again, it would depend on the proposers and whether there is a requisition for an EGM," he told reporters.

In the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today, Shafee failed in his defamation suit against fellow lawyer Tommy Thomas, former Court of Appeal judge VC George and the Malaysian Bar. 

Shafee filed the suit to stop Tommy Thomas and VC George from tabling a motion against him at the Malaysian Bar AGM last year. He obtained an ex-parte injunction a day before the AGM to stop the motion from being tabled.
 
Varughese said a full statement would later be issued by Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru, who is now overseas.

Meanwhile, former Bar president Christopher Leong described the decision as "excellent" as the court has clearly recognised and re-affirmed the critical aspect on matters affecting its members and also on issues of public interest.

Shafee is also expected to release a written statement on the decision.