Police did not find sufficient evidence to verify an allegation by a former high court judge that he had been 'intimidated' by prominent lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

De facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz ( photo ) said this when winding up debate on the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2006 this afternoon.

"The police reports by (former judge) KL Rekhraj and (another complainant) Zaharah Abdul Rahman were investigated," Mohd Nazri said following a disclosure by Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor).

"However, the two complaints were categorised as 'no further action' because of lack of evidence to bring a charge against Shafee."

Interjecting, Karpal asked for more details as to the form of intimidation attributed to Shafee, who is also a member of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

However, Nazri said he did not have details.

Shafee could not be contacted this evening for immediate comment.

'Warrant of arrest'

While debating the bill, Karpal - himself a senior lawyer - asked why no action had been taken against Shafee for allegedly threatening Rekhraj in discharging his judicial duties.

Karpal claimed that Shafee enjoys close ties with the establishment and that he has constantly used the names of ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"A warrant of arrest was issued against him (Shafee) in relation to the Rekhraj's complaint but he was given 'protection' until this warrant was withdrawn,"claimed Karpal.

Karpal also cited police inaction against three police reports lodged by a woman only identified as 'Zaharah Abdul Rahman' over a claim of criminal intimidation against Shafee.

The DAP chairperson said he had the copy of the three reports with him.

"Why has no action been taken? Does this show he still has protection from the top?" he asked.

Met outside the House later, Karpal refused to elaborate on the complaints or to distribute the copies of the police reports. However, he said he stands by what he said in the House.

Image 'tarnished'

Other public figures also came in for criticism by Karpal for "tarnishing the image of the lawyers" during his debate.

They included former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker DP Vijandran, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas and former Sabah chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan - all of whom are lawyers by training.

Karpal questioned why Vijandran was allowed to continue to practise as a lawyer despite being allegedly involved in a pornographic video tape scandal in the mid-1980s.

He then pointed out that Kayveas ( photo ) was fined for breach of professional conduct and that Pairin was fined RM1,800 for corruption.

Mohd Nazri told Karpal that the Bar Council had rejected the issuance of a practising certificate to Vijandran, but that the decision had been overruled by the Court of Appeal after Vijandran filed an appeal.

Kayveas had also filed an appeal in court, added Mohd Nazri, while Pairin had been elected to office.