Karpal throws down the gauntlet, wants police to investigate his report immediately

Lawyer Karpal Singh (pic) is a very angry man.

For far too long, he has been on the receiving end, being held under the Internal Security Act, being charged with sedition and has been investigated on numerous occasions by the police.

He was also charged with participating in illegal assemblies and is currently fighting a sedition charge against the Sultan of Perak and could lose his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat if convicted.

On top of all this, the 73-year-old, who is wheelchair-bound, has been saddled with an allegation he just cannot stomach and now he has thrown down the gauntlet to the police.

Karpal is demanding that police and the public prosecutor act decisively and quickly on his report made against losing Permatang Pauh Umno candidate Dr Mazlan Ismail.

Dr Mazlan had alleged he had received more than 6,000 anonymous letters stating that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave Karpal RM50 million as legal fees and also to bribe the prosecution and the judiciary.

At the very least, Karpal wants the police to update him on the investigations into his complaint.

"I will ask for a status report, failing which I will refer the matter to the Attorney-General for further action," the veteran lawyer told The Malaysian Insider.

"There is no letting up on this matter. I want the police to tell me what is going on,” he said, adding he was relying on a provision in the Criminal Procedure Code to assert his rights as a complainant.

He has also given the police one month to come up with answers.

On Sunday, Anwar and Karpal lodged police reports against Dr Mazlan and the mainstream media.

Both opposition figures claimed they were defamed in relation to the contents of the 6,000 anonymous letters which were allegedly sent to Dr Mazlan’s house.

Dr Mazlan told reporters last Saturday that more than 6,000 anonymous letters were sent to his home alleging Anwar paid Karpal over RM50 million since 2008 for legal fees and bribes to  judges and prosecutors.

Karpal said Dr Mazlan could have gone to the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission instead of going to the mainstream media.

He also said that they will file a defamation suit against Dr Mazlan.

Karpal said police have yet to record statements from him since the report was lodged on Sunday.

"Maybe they will do so after the Hari Raya holidays and I will wait for them," he said.

He also urged the A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail  to do what is needed to defend the judiciary and his officers.

The judiciary's Corporate Communications and International Relations head Mohd Aizuddin Zolkeply said they would leave it to the police and the MACC to investigate the report.

"The Chief Justice (Tun Arifin Zakaria) welcomes any investigation if the allegation is true."

However, the Bar Council took a harder stand.

Its chairman, Christopher Leong, said the judiciary could initiate contempt proceedings against Dr Mazlan if he failed to prove the allegations.

"He must back the claim, failing which contempt proceedings for tarnishing the administration of justice could be started," Leong said.

He said the allegation, if not proven, is defamatory and unfair to the judiciary and the Attorney-General's Chambers.