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Sunday, September 04, 2022

Bar Council has turned into politicised body: Zaid Ibrahim


theVibes.com:

Bar Council has turned into politicised body: Zaid Ibrahim

Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ex-counsel says legal outfit’s priority should be defending lawyers


Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (pic) has hit back at the Bar Council over criticism levelled against him while he represented Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the former prime minister’s final appeal on the SRC International graft conviction. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 4, 2022


KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has hit back at the Bar Council over criticism levelled against him while he represented Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the former prime minister’s final appeal on the SRC International graft conviction.

Zaid, who briefly acted as one of Najib’s lawyers during the appeal hearing at the Federal Court, said the council has become a “politicised” outfit, despite its purpose of serving as a professional body.

Zaid, who is a former law minister during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration, said he had even been a secretary at the bar for years, and thought of it as a “very useful” organisation for the legal fraternity at the time.


I’ve done my bit. But when the body itself questions my integrity and my motives without even checking with me, checking my motive and propriety in defending Datuk Seri Najib, I felt very sad.

“This is how politicised this body has become,” he said during The Vibes’ The Good, The Bad and the Ugly podcast interview recently.

“I thought the first priority of a professional body is to defend its members, at least ask me, ‘Why did you do it (defend Najib)?’

“But no, they would rather make a statement first, imputing improper motives on my part. Your priority should be your members’ interest.”


Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has also lambasted the Bar Council for its alleged selectiveness in defending the judiciary and legal system. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 4, 2022


During the final appeal hearing in late August, Bar Council chairman Karen Cheah issued a statement alleging that Najib’s legal team, including Zaid, had abused the judicial process and brought disrepute to the justice system over numerous attempts to adjourn the proceedings.

On August 29, Zaid and two of his partners issued a letter of demand to Cheah, seeking a retraction of a statement and a public apology over “malicious” statements regarding the behaviour of Najib’s defence.

Zaid also lambasted the Bar Council for its alleged selectiveness in defending the judiciary and legal system.

“When Chief Justice Tun (Mohamed) Raus Sharif was asked by (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) to leave, when the Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudi was asked to leave, what did they (Bar Council) say? Nothing.


“When (former attorney-general Tan Sri) Tommy Thomas revealed in his book about (Dr) Mahathir promoting (Tun) Tengku Maimun (Tuan Mat), what did they say? Nothing.


When you start making judgements when you are (actually) a professional body, then I feel sorry for the profession.”

During the podcast session, Zaid touched on some legal reforms he championed while he was law minister, including the move to provide restitution for former chief justice Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas and other judges in 2008, 20 years after they were sacked during the 1988 constitutional crisis.

Zaid also touched on the trust deficit of the nation’s institutions owing to political interference.


Datuk Zaid Ibrahim agrees with the notion that the nation’s rulers could help in bringing back the people's trust in the institutions. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 4, 2022


Time for monarchical intervention?

Asked whether the nation’s rulers could help in bringing back the people’s trust in the institutions, he agreed.

“I think they (rulers) have to. When political parties no longer make sense to the people, when the institutions are already ‘breaking up’ in that sense, the whole government is in tatters.

“I think the Malay rulers ought to step in to advise on what has to be done. I’m not suggesting they get involved in politics.

“But they cannot close their eyes to the issues that the country is facing. They have to come forward to offer advice and suggestions.

“We are not a mature democracy, we are developing into one. If the monarchy does not play its part, we might not even get there.

“People respect the monarchy and let’s keep it that way. Let them play an active role.” – The Vibes, September 4, 2022


3 comments:

  1. I think it is Zaid Ibrahim who is making politicised attacks on the judiciary , especially Federal Court proceedings.

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  2. just as you have every right to criticise the bar council, they have the same rights to criticise the abuse of court process by your client, you are only representing your client so don't take it personally, the criticism was not directed at you, it looks to me you are just trying to salvage whatever reputation you have left by giving the impression that your client was not accorded a fair trial rendering you to become a non starter

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  3. It's not only the Bar Council leadership, but a great many practicing and retired lawyers who have been aghast at Zaid Ibrahim and Hisyam Teh's antics before the Federal Court.
    Shorn of the political overtones - pure events .
    A Lawyer and his law firm agrees to take up a case replacing (not in addition to, mind you) the previous lawyers, 8 months after the Federal Court hearing date had been set , and less than 1 month before the Appeal hearing.
    The lawyer and his firm then appears before the Court declaring they are not ready, and request for an additional 4 months delay in the hearing , to prepare the case.
    The Federal Court turns down the request, and the lawyer now attacks the Federal Court , declaring bias and politicisation.

    Most of my lawyer friends (except die hard BN supporters) tell me this amounts to unprofessional conduct by the lawyer and his law firm.

    Zaid Ibrahim and Hisyam have severely damaged their professional reputations by their own conduct, hence I suspect their campaign now to attack the Bar Council.

    ReplyDelete