Lawyer Zaid wants CJ to ask AG about letter to judge
Zaid also wants the Malaysian Bar to state its stand on this controversy which smacks of interference by the AG's Chambers.
Written by TheMole
KUALA LUMPUR — Aug. 30, 2022: Lawyer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim wants Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to ask Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun to show cause why he should not face contempt of court proceedings over a letter sent by his office to the high court, despite the retraction of the letter by a prosecutor in court this morning.
He was referring to a letter dated August 29 written by prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob to the secretary to Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah which went viral yesterday.
“Such a letter seeking to dictate the priority in which cases should be heard by any court is unprecedented and is surely contemptuous,” said Zaid.
“This morning’s retraction was not because the author felt it was wrong and showed any remorse.
“It was only withdrawn because it had raised alarm overnight after a copy of it went viral on social media.”This is what the letter says: “I am instructed to request that (the judge) give priority to the above case (PP v. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) in preference to the trial of the 1MDB case (involving former prime minister Najib Razak) which is also before Yang Arif Dato’. This request is made to enable the defence’s case to be concluded as quickly as possible.”
Zaid points out that the letter says the DPP was writing it “on instructions, which must mean he had been instructed by the AG to do so”.
He said it was wholly wrong and unacceptable for the AG to dictate to any court the order in which cases ought to be heard and thus the AG must immediately explain his involvement in the request and the reasons for it.
Zaid also called on Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah to state the Bar’s stand.
“The Bar president was quick to attack my colleagues and me for what she claims was an abuse of process on our part in Najib’s SRC International appeal. Now is the time for her to prove her true worth,” he said.
Zaid Ibrahim , unprofessional lawyer , Kerbauing again
ReplyDeleteU Clearly hypocrite
DeleteYes, in this instance I agree with Zaid that the letter amounts to interfering with the judiciary.
ReplyDeleteStern action must be carried out against those responsible for such a blatant attempt to interfere with the court.
This is really stupidity personified.
My lawyer friends tell me this is not the first time and certainly not the last time the prosecution requests for a trial to be prioritised.
DeleteIt happens in the UK Court and is within the purview of the Crown Prosecutor, usually citing public interest.
Extradition and Deportation cases, are often requested to be expedited, as well as cases involving elderly witnesses or victims.
Just requesting a trial to be fit in earlier if there are available slots in the Court Calendar, instead of usual older case first. The Opposing side can object, and the decision is up to the Judge.
It is proper to ask the AG for an explanation, but NOT proper to ask the AG to resign.
UMNO is just Kerbauing.