The Bar Council has defended senior member Karpal Singh, saying he did not breach rules and regulations on the ethical conduct of members of the legal profession over the demand that he be called to testify in Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy II trial.

NONEBar chairperson Ragunath Kesavan (right) said: "We believe there is no basis for misgivings on Karpal's legal and moral standing as defence counsel in the trial. The public prosecutor has not subpoenaed him as a witness.

"Furthermore, no objection has been raised by any party in the case, including the court, on his role Anwar's counsel."

Ummi Hafilda has accused Karpal of breaching ethics when she approached him after being detained by the police to retract her 1997 statement on allegations about Anwar's sodomy conduct.

Following this, she threatened to sue Karpal for breach of duty.

Others have said that following Ummi Hafilda's claim, the lawyer should testify in the on-going trial. Karpal's position is that the time limit to sue has expired.