Disagrees with stand of SLS on State AG

Published on: Sunday, December 06, 2020

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Credit: Borneo Post Online

AS a lawyer, I am puzzled by the spirited defence mounted by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) over the appointment of Datuk Brendon Soh as the new State Attorney General in the last days of the previous Warisan-Plus State Government.

It argued that there was no need for the new GRS State Government to replace Soh, who was also reportedly paid a package to the tune of RM60,000 per month or at least two to three times more than any of his predecessors.

Since when did SLS become duty-bound to defend its past president in a manner akin to telling the new Chief Minister how to do his job. Especially when Soh on record defended the previous State Government against sitting members of the present administration.

All Attorney Generals, be they at Federal or State level, made their exit as a matter of principle or ethics or were replaced by the incoming administrations, in case the SLS President suffers from memory lapse.

Tommy Thomas stepped aside when Tun Dr Mahathir’s Pakatan Harapan government fell. Going back to Sabah’s political history, this has also always been the case.

Nicholas Fung made way when Berjaya fell to Datuk Herman Luping. So did Datuk Stephen Foo, Datuk Bazain, Datuk Roderick Fernandez, Datuk Mariati, etc, when the time came for their replacement.

I don’t recall even the then SLA making any stand as SLS did when previous AGs were replaced and I believe an explanation is in order, as well as an apology to the Chief Minister.

Puzzled