Rayer tells critics to meet him over his involvement in MyKad scam case
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer is willing to meet those who criticised him over his decision to represent a businessperson purportedly involved in a recent MyKad scam in Penang.
When contacted, Rayer told Malaysiakini "no comments for now but come to the court (during the case) and you will get my response"...
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer is willing to meet those who criticised him over his decision to represent a businessperson purportedly involved in a recent MyKad scam in Penang.
When contacted, Rayer told Malaysiakini "no comments for now but come to the court (during the case) and you will get my response".
He will continue to represent the suspect, Lai Chin Wah, who together with six others, were arrested and charged in separate Sessions Courts in George Town on Sept 12 with 32 counts for offences in connection with the issuance and sale of MyKads to foreigners.
Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said the act of selling MyKads and birth certificates to foreigners is a "huge betrayal" to the country.
Today, Penang MIC chairperson M Nyanasegaran said it was a question of "conflict of interest" for Rayer to represent the suspect as Rayer is an MP of the ruling DAP party.
"It is true that Rayer has the right to defend his clients, but this is not logical in politics.
"Rayer is probably the first MP of a ruling party who is doing this," he said in a press conference in George Town today.
Nyanasegaran questioned Rayer's moral position, saying he belongs to the present government, which crippled the MyKad syndicate.
"However, in court, Rayer will be defending the individual involved in the syndicate.
"What is Rayer's actual position when it comes to this scam? Is he supporting it? Why is he so busy defending the subject involved in this crime?" he asked.
Nyanasegaran asked Rayer to quit his party and become an independent MP if he was adamant in representing the suspect.
"He can't be in the Pakatan Harapan government which had successfully put a stop to the scam, and at the same time defend the suspect," he added.
The Penang Sessions Court had set Sept 26 and 27 to hear objection arguments by defence lawyers who disagreed with the prosecution's request to transfer the case to the High Court.
Bar disturbed by 'harassment'
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Bar said it is "deeply disturbed" by news reports casting aspersions against Rayer, which it said are "calculated to intimidate and harass".
"It is a constitutional guarantee that every accused person is entitled to be defended by a lawyer of his own choosing, regardless of how heinous the alleged crime may be.
"In support of this are the professional standards imposed on an advocate and solicitor to perform his duties to put forward the best representation possible for his or her client," said Bar president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor.
Fareed said the accusations against Rayer contravened Principle 16 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers which provides that governments should ensure that lawyers can perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference.
"Recalling that the presumption of innocence - that an accused is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law - is an essential precept of our criminal justice system, the Malaysian Bar urges all parties to respect and uphold the rule of law in this regard. The right to a fair trial must be protected.
"The Malaysian Bar calls upon the authorities to act swiftly against anyone attempting to impede the process of justice by threatening and harassing lawyers," he said.
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