Anwar succeeds in recusing Appeals Court judge, to seek Umno lawyer Shafee's removal NEXT

UPDATE2 KUALA LUMPUR - The lawyers for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim sprang a surprise on Tuesday, calling for one of the three judges hearing the government's appeal of his sodomy acquittal to be recused.

According to Nurul, who is Anwar's oldest daughter, the defense will also proceed to seek the removal of Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah, who was specially appointed by the Attorney-General's Chambers to lead the prosecution.

"The request was made by our counsel for one of the judges to be recused because she was involved in a past case together with Datuk Seri Anwar and Dr Mahathir Mohamad," MP for Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar told Malaysia Chronicle.

"We (will) try, somewhere in time it is the government's loss because it leave a distasteful mark in the conduct of the case which is why we have so many observers because people are concerned there's political motivation that influencing the progress of the trial. It is incumbent on the BN government to ensure that the Attorney General's Chambers chooses proper individuals to raise the levels of professionalism and of course fairness," she added, when asked if the bid to recuse Shafee would continue.

After deliberating for about half-an-hour, the 3-member panel agreed that Tengku Maimum Tuan Mat should be replaced and adjourned proceedings till the next day. A new judge will be named to take her place.

Anwar, sporting heavy dark glasses due to an eye irritation, declined to speak with reporters, saying that he would do so when the case had progressed further. Apart from Nurul, he was accompanied by PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, MP for Wangsa Maju Tan Kee Kwong and PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng.

Pick individuals who are professional & fair for Sodomy II - Nurul tells BN govt

Malaysia's judicial system on review

All eyes are next on Shafee Abdullah, the Umno lawyer who boasted that he could nail Anwar in "2 to 3 hours". The new Appellate panel will hear the submissions of Anwar's defense team led by veteran legal eagle Karpal Singh on Wednesday.

It was a rare scene at Malaysia's Palace of Justice where members of the legal academia, both foreign and local, nearly matched the number of supporters and media present.

"We are extremely comforted by the fact that the international community is taking a deep interest. Anwar having been acquitted, they had hoped this would be an end to a very sad tale. Now they (Prime Minister Najib Razak's government) have taken this up to the Court of Appeal, the international media, the international community is still very interested in what happens to Anwar.We all know Anwar won the majority, with the Pakatan Rakyat winning the majority of votes yet they were denied setting up a government. Now they (Najib's government) are pursuing this prosecution with great vigor with chief prosecutor saying, give him 2 to 3 hours and he will wrap up the case," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

"So the presence of the international media and observers is very important to the course of reformation in this country, the course of change and we have 5 very distinguished bodies here (in court). We have the International Commission of Jurists which is represent by a very eminent jurist, Elizabeth Evatt, then we have the International Federation for Human Rights based in Paris, represented by Elizabeth Stoddard, is the foremost human rights body in the world. They are responisble for establishing the International Court in Hague. LawAsia is also present represented by Mark Trovell QC, who is also represent the International Parliamentary Union which represents 162 Parliaments in the world. They are here to see what is happening. Then we have the International Bar Association representing jurists and lawyers throughout the world with Edward Craven representing them. The last one is of course the International Legal Center in Philippines which has also sent a representative. The (Malaysian) Bar Council is also present, we also expect Suhakam is present."

Int'l community is very concerned about what happens to Anwar - Jui Meng

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