We are pro-rule of law and justice, not pro politics, says Bar Council

In a press release, the Bar Council wished to address some issues that have arisen in the past week. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 26, 2015.

President of the Malaysian Bar Christopher Leong has defended the Bar's apolitical stance, saying it was "pro-rule of law and justice" and was neither for the government or the opposition.

Leong said in a statement that the Bar's move to take issue with the "professional conduct" of a certain prosecutor who has been going on a political roadshow to explain Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy conviction was done out of concern for the rule of law and justice.

"The Bar raises these issues and asks questions because it is pro-rule of law and pro-justice.  The Bar is neither pro-Opposition nor pro-Government," Leong said in a statement tonight.

He did not name the prosecutor, but it is widely known that private lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who has been given a prosecutor's license by the Attorney-General in Anwar's case, has given talks at events organised by Umno on the Federal Court verdict which upheld Anwar's conviction.

Leong said parties who have been misconstruing the Bar's earlier press statement released on February 11, to cease doing so.

He said that statement had “plainly and clearly” touched on the prosecutorial process only.

In the February 11 statement, Leong said that Anwar had been “persecuted instead of prosecuted” and that the opposition leader should have been charged under the 377C of the Penal Code for forced sodomy or sodomy rape.

Anwar had been charged under another provision in the law on consensual sodomy.

Leong was severely criticised by various quarters, including a group of nearly 100 lawyers.

- TMI