Pakatan MPs want 'plagiarist' judge removed

Some 60 Pakatan Rakyat MPs have endorsed a motion demanding the dismissal of an appellate court judge for allegedly plagiarising a judgment by former Singapore judge GP Selvam.

“It is clearly misconduct of a very serious nature on the part of(name withheld by Malaysiakini pending right of reply), bringing the Malaysian judiciary into disrepute,” DAP chairperson and senior lawyer Karpal Singh told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Karpal, the Bukit Gelugor MP, said the motion was filed at the Dewan Rakyat speaker's office earlier today under Standing Orders 27 read with 36(8) and Article 127 of the federal constitution.

He explained that he had sent a letter to the judge on Aug 22 and given him seven days to respond. However, there has been none to date.

The veteran lawyer added that he wrote another letter on Sept 29, informing judge that since he did not reply to the claim of plagiarism, it amounted to an admission of the misconduct.

“Wherefore, this House calls upon the Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) to invoke the provisions of Article 125 (3) of the federal constitution with a view to referring (the judge) to a tribunal, in accordance with Clause 4, to remove him from office as a judge of the Court of Appeal, on grounds of serious misconduct, which has brought Malaysian judiciary into disrepute.

“And wherefore, pending any report by the tribunal under Clause 3, (the judge should) be suspended forthwith as judge of the Court of Appeal, Malaysia,” reads Karpal's motion.

Asked if the judge had plagiarised Justice Selvam's judgment, word for word, Karpal said judges were allowed to refer to other judgments, but these must be rightly attributed.

“(In this case) some portions were plagiarised, word by word. He can adopt portions of the judgment but it must be quoted. He didn't,” said Karpal.