KUALA LUMPUR – The Sabah Law Society (SLS) shindig which made the news yesterday for a video showing the Attorney General (AG), Chief Justice (CJ) and a Minister doing ‘The Twist’ has been blown out of proportion, believes Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.
The dinner and dance was just another tradition of the legal fraternity whose other customs which are sometimes regarded as “very English” include a “call to the bar” by trainee solicitors and using expressions like “my learned friend” in court, he said in a statement today.
“The dinner and dance which has been turned into a ‘hot topic’ for no reason is in fact one of these traditions. Yes, I admit it may look a bit western and seen by the ‘holier-than-thou’ as not Syariah-compliant.
“But, for me, supporting and giving ‘life’ and ‘oxygen’ at one time to a kleptocratic regime is also not very Islamic or Syariah-compliant. So please-lah, stop acting!” he added.
Hanipa’s response follows a viral clip showing AG Tommy Thomas, CJ Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal Affairs), Datuk Liew Vui Keong, dancing on stage during the SLS “Opening of Legal Year 2019” function in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Jan 18.
The video received a lot of attention on social media including from Umno Youth chief, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who in a statement described the conduct as an embarrassment to the country’s judicial and legal system as it calls into questions judicial integrity. — Bernama
Umno calls for their resignations to maintain image of judiciary
CAMERON HIGHLANDS – Umno views the dancing act by Attorney General Tommy Thomas and Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum as unethical, and calls for their resignations to maintain the good name of the judiciary.
The party also felt it was unacceptable for Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, who is in charge of law, to been seen dancing on the same stage with the two highly-placed personalities.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the judiciary was supposed to be exclusive and its members should not be seen associating or having an external relationship.
“This could be seen as having an influence on the decisions they make in court.
“The perception towards them is very bad now. To clean up their mess, they should apologise to the people and consider resigning voluntarily,” he said in Brinchang here yesterday.
Thomas, Malanjum and Liew were seen dancing at the gala dinner hosted by the Sabah Law Society in conjunction with the Opening of Legal Year 2019 in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.
The viral clip also showed activist lawyers Siti Kasim and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan dancing to the classic Chubby Checker 60s hit Let’s Twist Again. Critics said their fraternising had tarnished the image of the judiciary.
Ismail Sabri said it was not wrong for them to dance but seeing all of them dancing on the same stage would cause a negative perception.
“From a layman’s point of view, they think can kao tim (settle cases) now, as they are all together in one gang.
“People may think that if the AG brings a case to court, he can win easily. It’s all perception and assumption and maybe it’s not the case, but we just want to avoid this. Judiciary ethics must be maintained,” he added.
De facto Deputy Law Minister Hanipa Maidin said he was puzzled by all the fuss over the dancing.
“As far as I know, the legal fraternity has been consistently organising the dinner and dance almost every year.
“That has been part of its rich traditions. Such an event does not, in any circumstances, sacrifice its professionalism,” he said.
Hanipa said the critics were entitled to express their opinions.
“This is called democracy and freedom of speech. In a new Malaysia, such freedom has fortunately blossomed,” he added.
Senior lawyer Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said the video showing members of the legal fraternity should not be made into an issue.
“That is a social gathering and there is no problem with it. I also attended gatherings when I was a DPP and magistrate back then. I was present when the Bar Council organised a gathering.
“If there was dancing, I also danced along. But that is a sign of respect for our camaraderie.
“There was no problem and the question of ethical violations did not arise,” he said yesterday. — ANN
BERNAMA / ANN
When PH question former AG Apandi Umngok came out defending what they did but now why do umngok raised the same question? They should used their earlier reasoning as an answer for their question. As simple as ABC. Period.
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