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Malaysian lawyers questioned by police over call for Attorney-General's resignation
The three lawyers were questioned as part of a sedition investigation for calling on Attorney-General Apandi Ali to resign after closing corruption investigations into Prime Minister Najib Razak.
- Posted 31 Mar 2016 19:18
- Updated 31 Mar 2016 21:51
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian lawyers were up in arms after
three members of the Bar were questioned by police on Thursday (Mar 31)
for calling on Attorney-General Apandi Ali to resign after closing
corruption investigations into Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Charles Hector, Francis Pereira and R Shanmugam put forth a motion calling for the AG's resignation at the Malaysian Bar's closed-door annual general meeting on Mar 19.
They believe there was a conflict of interest when the AG - appointed to replace the abruptly dismissed Gani Patail - ordered the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to close investigations into Mr Najib over the almost US$700 million in his personal bank accounts.
The AG had also directed the MACC to close its probe into SRC International, a former subsidiary of state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), also advised by Mr Najib.
More than 700 lawyers voted in favour the motion, resolving that the AG should step down "for the good of Malaysia, to restore public confidence and perception of the rule of law, in particular the administration of criminal justice in Malaysia".
On Thursday, the three lawyers who tabled the motion, and the secretary of the Malaysian Bar Karen Cheah, were questioned as part of a sedition investigation.
"We are still committed to upholding the course of justice without fear or favour. No amount of harassment or intimidation of this kind will actually stop us," Mr Hector told the media after questioning.
Former Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan said it was
unprecedented for authorities to open investigations into a motion made
by a body such as the Bar - which all lawyers in Malaysia are a part of.
"They think they can literally barge into our territory and tell us what to do," she said. "I think that's a dangerous precedent because whether it's a statutory body (like the Bar) or an ordinary society or organisation - to try and tell people that they cannot move a motion in their own general meeting, which is closed-door by the way, is a very dangerous precedent."
Charles Hector, Francis Pereira and R Shanmugam put forth a motion calling for the AG's resignation at the Malaysian Bar's closed-door annual general meeting on Mar 19.
They believe there was a conflict of interest when the AG - appointed to replace the abruptly dismissed Gani Patail - ordered the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to close investigations into Mr Najib over the almost US$700 million in his personal bank accounts.
The AG had also directed the MACC to close its probe into SRC International, a former subsidiary of state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), also advised by Mr Najib.
More than 700 lawyers voted in favour the motion, resolving that the AG should step down "for the good of Malaysia, to restore public confidence and perception of the rule of law, in particular the administration of criminal justice in Malaysia".
On Thursday, the three lawyers who tabled the motion, and the secretary of the Malaysian Bar Karen Cheah, were questioned as part of a sedition investigation.
"We are still committed to upholding the course of justice without fear or favour. No amount of harassment or intimidation of this kind will actually stop us," Mr Hector told the media after questioning.
"They think they can literally barge into our territory and tell us what to do," she said. "I think that's a dangerous precedent because whether it's a statutory body (like the Bar) or an ordinary society or organisation - to try and tell people that they cannot move a motion in their own general meeting, which is closed-door by the way, is a very dangerous precedent."
- CNA/ec - Channel NewsAsia, 31/3/2016
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