The Malaysian Bar - Plagiarism allegations should not go unpunished: Bar Council

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Plagiarism allegations should not go unpunished: Bar Council

Monday, 10 October 2011 09:10am

©The Sun Daily (Used by permission)
by Tan Yi Liang

PETALING JAYA (Oct 9, 2011): The allegations levelled against a sitting Court of Appeal judge that were raised in Parliament last Tuesday for plagiarising a judgment written by a Singapore judge in a 2000 copyright case should not go unpunished if true.

This was the SMS response from Malaysian Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee today when asked on the joint motion submitted by 60 opposition MPs to discuss the judge's conduct.

"Copying another person's work and failing to acknowledge the source even though failure to do so was an oversight, is also wrong," said Lim.

He said the matter was investigated by the late Tun Eusoff Chin, who was chief justice at the time.

"However, there was inadequate information about whether there was in fact plagiarism or copying." he added.

"It is in the public interest that the authorities disclose the past investigation and if it was inadequate, to look into it again," he said Lim.

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh had said the motion was filed under Standing Order 27, read together with Standing Order 36 (8) and Article 127 of the Federal Constitution.

He had said the motion was to discuss the conduct of the judge, who was then High Court of Malaya judge based in Johor Baru, for plagiarising the judgment of Singapore judge GP Selvam.

Karpal told theSun he wanted an explanation as to what action was taken against the judge, and for the judge to explain himself, pointing out the judge had been elevated to the Court of Appeal after the alleged incident.

"We want to know what action was taken, and if not taken, why? I am putting my reputation on the line, because if it is not true, the consequences are horrendous. I have no doubt in my mind that it happened," said Karpal.

He said two letters were sent to the judge, the first being before Hari Raya but there was no response. He challenged the judge to sue him for defamation.

"He has not applied and filed an injunction to stop me from talking and (he has not) filed a suit for defamation," said Karpal, adding that the judge should resign.

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