Press Release: No breach of etiquette or ethics by Karpal Singh
Tuesday, 25 January 2011 02:41pm
The Malaysian Bar is of the view that there is no ground for Karpal Singh being called to be a witness and give testimony in the ongoing sodomy trial of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The question of there being a breach of the existing rules and regulations dealing with ethical conduct of members of the legal profession does not arise in this case.
We believe that there is no basis for misgivings regarding the legal and moral standing of Karpal Singh to serve as defence counsel in the trial. Quite rightly, the Public Prosecutor has not subpoenaed Karpal Singh to appear as a witness. Furthermore, no objections have been raised by any party to the case, including the court, on his role as Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s counsel.
It is therefore mischievous of any party, let alone Members of the Bar, to now intimate that Karpal Singh should be disqualified on the basis of his access to so-called knowledge in the previous sodomy trial. The issues that have been raised in recent days might have been relevant in that earlier trial, had the then-Public Prosecutor voiced any opposition to Karpal Singh’s role as a potential prosecution witness, and his subsequent appearance as defence counsel. The lack of any such objection at that time makes it even more preposterous for any party to now cite such matters in respect of the ongoing trial.
The Malaysian Bar reiterates that Karpal Singh has neither contravened the Legal Profession Act 1976 nor any rules of etiquette, and calls on all parties to allow the trial to proceed without unnecessary hindrance.
No breach of etiquette or ethics by Karpal Singh written by Mohamed Reza Bin Abdul Rahim,
Wednesday, January 26 2011 02:43 pm
I wonder if the views contained herein are the views of the BAR Council or the views of the President alone ? Did the President consult the rest before making the press release...
I also wonder why I don't see the BAR Council coming in defence of all the other lawyers in the country facing conflict issues...
Is there a seniority bracket I have to achieve before the BAR Council comes to my aid if I am ever in this situation...
I wonder...
Reza Rahim
Statement Uncalled For written by Abdul Fareed Bin Abdul Gafoor,
Wednesday, January 26 2011 09:13 pm
The opinion proferred by President Ragunath on the issue at hand does not augur well for the Malaysian Bar in its entirety. He seem to have descended into the domain of the Disciplinary Board on the issue of ethics. Comments of such a nature lends credence to the claims of detractors of the Malaysian Bar who had always accused the Bar of having a certain political slant. It is a shame the comments of this nature being made towards the end of his term of office. He owes an explanation to the Bar Members. The entire Bar Council should also make a stand on this issue as well.
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The Malaysian Bar is of the view that there is no ground for Karpal Singh being called to be a witness and give testimony in the ongoing sodomy trial of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The question of there being a breach of the existing rules and regulations dealing with ethical conduct of members of the legal profession does not arise in this case.
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I wonder if the views contained herein are the views of the BAR Council or the views of the President alone ? Did the President consult the rest before making the press release...
I also wonder why I don't see the BAR Council coming in defence of all the other lawyers in the country facing conflict issues...
Is there a seniority bracket I have to achieve before the BAR Council comes to my aid if I am ever in this situation...
I wonder...
Reza Rahim