Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Bar is believed to have passed a motion of no confidence against Attorney-General Idrus Harun at its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) this afternoon.
The motion submitted for voting read that the Bar had “no confidence in the attorney-general for his abject failure to defend the judiciary from attacks and to uphold the rule of law”.
Unconfirmed numbers suggest that 406 voted for the motion, 15 against, and 16 abstained.
In its motion, the lawyers cited the alleged attacks against Court of Appeal judge Nazlan Ghazali, the trial judge for former prime minister Najib Razak’s SRC International case.
Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah presided over the meeting.
The Malaysian Bar also admonished the conduct of law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, which the lawyers said undermines the judiciary’s independence.
Last month, Azalina said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s probe on Justice Nazlan Ghazali concluded he had violated the Judges’ Code of Ethics and had a conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC International case.
In a letter dated March 20 to Najib Razak’s solicitors, Shafee & Co, Azalina confirmed that Nazlan, who presided over Najib’s SRC trial in the High Court, had breached the code and had a conflict of interest.
She said this was based on a report of MACC’s findings dated Feb 20, which the agency extended to her.
In today’s motion, the Malaysian Bar also said it “deplores” MACC for producing the report, the timing and the manner in which it was released, and the purported conclusion contained therein, “which is not within the purview of MACC’s powers”.
The lawyers also said they have mandated the Bar Council to give notice to the Attorney General to bring contempt proceedings against those “responsible for attacks on the judiciary”.
“… Failing which the Bar Council shall consider, and if deemed fit, commence contempt proceedings, or any other proceedings or actions in afformation of the resolutions above”.
Last week, FMT reported that 175 lawyers petitioned to convene an EGM of the Malaysian Bar to debate a motion condemning “scurrilous attacks” on the judiciary’s independence and “upholding the rule of law”.
