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Dr M’s lawyer: What is the AG doing dancing with ministers?
Published:  Sep 2, 2016 8:56 PM
Updated: 12:59 PM

Lawyer Haniff Khatri today disclosed a video of what he claimed showed attorney-general (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali dancing with a group of ministers.

Haniff, who is a lawyer for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said the behaviour was unbecoming of an attorney-general, particularly at a time when the government is embroiled in the 1MDB scandal.

“The attorney-general’s action of singing and having fun with government ministers in public... raises legitimate worry in the minds of concerned and right-thinking Malaysians about the attorney-general’s ability to make just and fair decisions in investigations against the prime minister or any government ministers with regard to the current crisis we are facing,” he said in a Facebook statement.

In the video, a man resembling Apandi is seen dancing with five ministers, namely Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Salleh Said Keruak, Maximus Ongkili, Azalina Othman Said and Nancy Shukri.

The event appear to be the Merdeka Day parade at Dataran Merdeka on Wednesday.

Haniff also questioned why Apandi was wearing the same uniform as the ministers.

He pointed out that the attorney-general is the only person with prosecution powers and whether someone is prosecuted or not, be it any individual, company, civil servant or even ministers, must go through him.

“Therefore, it is important in the in the natural justice system, justice is not only done but must be seen to be done.

“In other words, the attorney-general’s actions and interactions with all parties, be it members of the public or government ministers, must be highly professional,” he said.

He said this is even more important at a time when there is a global investigation into 1MDB with the prime minister and government being involved in the scandal.

Haniff asked that Apandi explain his behaviour in the video.

“If not, then the attorney-general should, respectfully, resign immediately,” he said.

Apandi in January cleared Najib of wrongdoing over the US$681 million deposits in his personal bank accounts.

Apandi said the money was a donation from a member of the Arab royal family.

He also cleared Najib of wrongdoing over deposits he received from state-owned SRC International, explaining that the prime minister had thought the deposits were also part of the “Arab donation”.

The US Department of Justice claimed the US$681 million originated from 1MDB.

Najib had consistently denied wrongdoing and said he did not take public funds for personal gain.


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