Annoyed at Bar's inaction, ex-COA judge acted against Shafee

Former Court of Appeal judge VC George was prepared to give a speech at the Malaysian Bar annual general meeting last year reprimanding the Bar for not doing anything with regard to former special prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s conduct.

George said this today when cross-examined by Shafee’s counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, in Shafee’s suit against him and three others.

One of the reasons why George had seconded lawyer Tommy Thomas’ motion to censure Shafee’s conduct was due to the various reports in the media reporting on his actions, which, among others, included going on roadshows, and giving interviews condemning former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“People kept sending me these articles. I understand The Bar had not done anything about it. I was very angry and annoyed (that) nothing was being done.

“If the motion had been moved at the annual general meeting of the Bar, I was prepared to make a speech, a substantial part of it reprimanding the Bar for not doing anything about it,” said George at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Issue-focused

Meanwhile, former Bar Council president Christopher Leong refuted Shafee’s accusation that the Malaysian Bar was pro-opposition.

Stressing that the Bar was neither pro-opposition nor pro-government, Leong said it has instead, always been issue-focused.

“The Bar constantly engages with the government on various matters,” said Leong in his testimony today.

It has also taken public positions in support of the government when the occasion did arise, said Leong, citing the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the initial announcement that the Sedition Act would be abolished.

Apart from George and Leong, Shafee is also suing Thomas who proposed the motion, as well as the Malaysian Bar.

Judge Hanipah Farikullah set May 26 for oral submissions and decision of the case. -Mkini