RPK's 'law firm' claims are libellous, says MBPJ
Published: Jan 10, 2012 4:25 PM | Updated: Jan 11, 2012 4:41 PM
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has dismissed the claims made by self-exiled blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin over its legal dealings as “untrue and libellous”.
Dismissing Raja Petra’s claims, it also clears councillors Derek Fernandez and Latheefa Koya, among others named.
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has dismissed the claims made by self-exiled blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin over its legal dealings as “untrue and libellous”.
In a statement today, it said neither lawyer and MBPJ councillor Derek Fernandez (left) nor his firm Fernandez & Selvarajah have been hired to handle the council's legal matters.
It also said there is no such firm as ‘Derek Fernandez & Co’ as stated by Raja Petra in his blog posting entitled 'Do it or Duit'.
Neither does lawyer and PKR vice-president N Surendran nor his firm Edwin, Lim, Soh and Suren handle any of the council’s 53 ongoing legal cases.
On councillor Latheefa Koya (right), it said the council had at a meeting - which she did not attend in 2009 - decided that there was “no conflict of interest” arising from appointing the firm Daim and Gamany.
This was based on the MBPJ's legal advisor's opinion that Latheefa is only a legal assistant at Daim and Gamany and not a partner.
It added that Latheefa did not sit on the committee which appointed the firm, in which PKR’s Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah is a partner, for any of the four MBPJ cases it is handling.
“Only the mayor has the power to appoint lawyers to the panel,” it said, noting that this was done based on the firm's expertise, fees and performance.
In a statement today, it said neither lawyer and MBPJ councillor Derek Fernandez (left) nor his firm Fernandez & Selvarajah have been hired to handle the council's legal matters. It also said there is no such firm as ‘Derek Fernandez & Co’ as stated by Raja Petra in his blog posting entitled 'Do it or Duit'.
Neither does lawyer and PKR vice-president N Surendran nor his firm Edwin, Lim, Soh and Suren handle any of the council’s 53 ongoing legal cases.
On councillor Latheefa Koya (right), it said the council had at a meeting - which she did not attend in 2009 - decided that there was “no conflict of interest” arising from appointing the firm Daim and Gamany. This was based on the MBPJ's legal advisor's opinion that Latheefa is only a legal assistant at Daim and Gamany and not a partner.
It added that Latheefa did not sit on the committee which appointed the firm, in which PKR’s Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah is a partner, for any of the four MBPJ cases it is handling.
“Only the mayor has the power to appoint lawyers to the panel,” it said, noting that this was done based on the firm's expertise, fees and performance.
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