Plagiarism: Judge admits guilt, says Karpal

'His refusal to sue me for defamation is a public admission of plagiarism. He should now resign.'

PETALING JAYA: Appeals Court Judge Abdul Malik Ishak has admitted that he has been guilty of plagiarism, according to DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

“I am taking the refusal by Abdul Malik to sue me for defamation as public admission of plagiarism,” he said in a press statement today.

He reiterated his call for Abdul Malik’s resignation.

Last week, Karpal asked the judge to respond to allegations that he had plagiarised a judgment made by Singapore High Court judge GP Selvam in 2000. He also challenged Malik to sue him if the allegations were false.

There has been no response from Abdul Malik

“Abdul Malik’s position as a judge of the Court of Appeal has become untenable,” Karpal said in today’s statement. “He knows the truth. He should step down.”

Abdul Malik was born in Johor and received his law degree from the University of Singapore. He became a judicial commissioner in October 1992 and was elevated to the position of Judge of the High Court of Malaya in Aug 1994. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in July 2007.

Karpal first made the allegation of plagiarism in Parliament last October, but the Speaker turned his motion to debate the issue. Subsequently he wrote several letters to Abdul Malik asking him to clarify the issue. Copies of those letters were sent to Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria.

Last month, the Chief Justice responded to the allegation by saying that it had no merit.