The government has yet again refused to disclose how much it had paid lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to represent the government in its appeal in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law Nancy Shukri yet again said that the figure cannot be disclosed due to “confidentiality” concerns.
In a written reply in Parliament to Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban), she said that Shafee was hired “for his experties and experience in handling criminal cases” and was paid a “nominal” fee.
“The fee cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality between a client and lawyer. Any disclosure cannot be made without consent by both parties to avoid legal action,” she said in the reply received yesterday.
In response, Loke said the reply shows how taxpayers are denied information on how their taxes are being used.
“This is why we need a Freedom of Information Act!” Loke said.
Nancy gave the same reasoning when asked the same question last November by DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.
Teo, a lawyer, said that legal fees are not bound by confidentiality clauses.
She also said that he fee paid to Shafee to act on behalf of the government in the Teoh Beng Hock death in custody case had been disclosed in Parliament.
Then de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz had then revealed that Shafee was paid RM150,000 for his services then.
In a written reply in Parliament to Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban), she said that Shafee was hired “for his experties and experience in handling criminal cases” and was paid a “nominal” fee.“The fee cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality between a client and lawyer. Any disclosure cannot be made without consent by both parties to avoid legal action,” she said in the reply received yesterday.
In response, Loke said the reply shows how taxpayers are denied information on how their taxes are being used.
“This is why we need a Freedom of Information Act!” Loke said.
Nancy gave the same reasoning when asked the same question last November by DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.
Teo, a lawyer, said that legal fees are not bound by confidentiality clauses.
She also said that he fee paid to Shafee to act on behalf of the government in the Teoh Beng Hock death in custody case had been disclosed in Parliament.
Then de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz had then revealed that Shafee was paid RM150,000 for his services then.
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