Bar case: Court trims damages for Shafee; speaker to block motions axing N Sembilan MB

 

Shafee v Bar court case

The Court of Appeal has reduced the damages awarded to lawyer Shafee Abdullah in a case against the Malaysian Bar from RM340,000 to RM120,000.

Free Malaysia Today reported that a three-member bench chaired by judge Choo Kah Sing partially allowed the Bar’s appeal today, while dismissing Shafee’s bid for higher damages.

The court cut damages for loss of reputation and injury to feelings from RM200,000 to RM100,000, while setting aside awards for loss of professional opportunities and mental stress. It retained RM20,000 in aggravated damages.

The dispute arose from a 2015 Malaysian Bar annual general meeting (AGM) motion concerning Shafee’s remarks on then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II conviction.

In 2021, the Federal Court ruled that the Bar had no authority to debate individual lawyers’ conduct at its AGM, as such matters fall under the disciplinary board.

N Sembilan MB

Negeri Sembilan legislative assembly speaker Awaludin Said said he will not allow emergency motions seeking to remove Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim during the assembly’s upcoming sitting.

Awaludin, who said he received no official notice or heard of any motion of no confidence against Ismail (below), said he would “only allow a motion if the state government has made a decision on it”.

According to The Star, he said the assembly, as the state’s highest legislative institution empowered to make laws and policies, “cannot be discussing matters that are illegal under state laws”.

The five-day sitting is expected to be opened by Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

MB's coercion claim

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that police are investigating Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim’s claim that he was forced to sign a document seeking Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s removal as the state's Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

New Straits Times quoted Saifuddin as saying the probe is underway after an investigation paper was opened following a report lodged by Lasim, who is the Juasseh assemblyperson. - Mkini