However, Chief Justice Zaki Azmi, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Abu Kassim Mohamed have confirmed their attendance at the three-day meet.
Bar Council deputy chairperson Lim Chee Wee (left), when contacted, confirmed that Najib and Abdul Gani would not be attending, despite invitations being sent to them much earlier.
"We received a letter from the Prime Minister's Office stating that he would be overseas. However, we did not receive any reason from Abdul Gani," said Lim.
However, he said, parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed his attendance.
Lim, who is chairing the committee organising the international conference - held once every two years - said the bar Council had for the first time invited leaders from both sides of the political divide.
"The Bar Council is an apolitical organisation. Hence, this year we invited leaders from the government and from the opposition as well," he said.
Rumours of boycott
Asked about rumours in the Twitter sphere that Najib and Abdul Gani had declined to attend because Anwar would be present, Lim said he could not say that was the reason.
"The PM has not said to my face why he isn't coming. He only said that he would be overseas at that time," he said.
A total of 82 speakers will descend on the conference, which will also see international dignitaries, including a former Court of Appeal judge from Singapore and several international High Court judges and CIMB chief executive officer Nazir Razak, who is a brother of the prime minister.
Lim said some 220 people have confirmed attendance so far and the Bar Council expected 300 people in all to attend.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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