Zuraida: I will decide on DPP to represent ministry in Adib inquest
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says she will have the final say on the appointment of a new lawyer to represent her ministry in the inquest into the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya this morning, Zuraida said she has asked the Attorney-General's Chambers to suggest several senior DPPs to replace lawyer Syazlin Mansor, who recently withdrew herself from the hearing...
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says she will have the final say on the appointment of a new lawyer to represent her ministry in the inquest into the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya this morning, Zuraida said she has asked the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to suggest several senior DPPs to replace lawyer Syazlin Mansor, who recently withdrew herself from the hearing.
"I have asked them to suggest two to three names, and let me pick who is to be appointed (to represent the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department).
"So the inquest will continue this June 26, there is still time.
"When I receive the names, I will look into it and make a decision," she told a press conference in Putrajaya.
Syazlin (above), a private lawyer who was engaged by the ministry for the inquest, announced her withdrawal last week.
The timing and circumstances surrounding her withdrawal on the orders of Attorney-General Tommy Thomas sparked public debate at the inquest is at its tail end.
According to Zuraida, she made the request to AGC when she met Thomas to discuss the inquest on Saturday.
She said nothing changes in the inquest despite Syazlin's departure from representing KPKT, as the DPP that is going to be appointed will pick up from where she left off.
"As part of the government, normally we would have to take lawyers that are suggested by the AGC. So there was bit of a mistake on my part (when appointing Syazlin without AGC's approval).
"So we are correcting that. But we asked that what Syazlin had done must not be set aside, and have to be adopted 100 percent.
"The same goes for (her) witness Dr Shahrom (Abdul Wahid). So on the part of his testimonies, nothing changed. The DPP will just follow (through)," Zuraida said.
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