Shafee childish for going on roadshow with Umno, says PKR Youth

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s involvement in the Umno Youth roadshow on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy conviction is seen as unprofessional. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 18, 2015.

Umno Youth’s planned nationwide roadshow on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy conviction using Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as their main man is a desperate attempt by the ruling party to win the trust of the people, said PKR's Youth chief.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also said that Shafee's readiness to be part of the programme had, apart from being inappropriate, only dented the credibility of the judiciary and the Attorney-General's Chambers.

He said it appeared as though the ruling was so weak that it needed to be supported to this extent, despite the ruling being in their favour.

The Federal Court last week upheld the Court of Appeal's conviction of Anwar and sentenced him to five years’ jail for sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Since then, Shafee, who prosecuted for the government in the sodomy appeal, has given several interviews and statements in government-controlled media on the case.

Last night, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Barisan Nasional would embark on a nationwide roadshow, featuring Shafee, to explain the Federal Court judgment on the sodomy case now that the judiciary process had ended.

Khairy also said that the party has been accused of and criticised for orchestrating a political conspiracy against Anwar since he was first charged in 2008, but has kept silent all these years.

"Despite these allegations, we kept quiet. For us in Umno, it is important for us to explain these accusations... that this case did not involve Umno and BN.

"So we have brought Tan Sri Shafee to bring the truth to all of you," the youth and sports minister said.

Nik Nazmi in a statement today said that Shafee’s behaviour was unprofessional, adding that there had never been a case where a prosecutor went on a roadshow to make statements about a convicted person.

"His actions, more so his readiness to partner with Umno Youth in the roadshow only reveal his childishness in facing critics on his involvement and the judgment itself.

"Once again, I urge him to have an open debate, not hide behind weak religious arguments.”

- TMI