The group of lawyers who issued a joint statement censuring Bar Council president Christopher Leong has insisted that it still has at least 100 backers.

This is after Pahang-based lawyer Norjehan Abu Bakar, whose name appeared in the joint statement, said her name was used without permission.

The Group of 100, referred to as G100, said in a Facebook posting that Norjehan was erroneously added to the list and would be replaced by another supportive lawyer, Nor Zakiah Abdul Majid.

“My opinion of this letter was never ever sought and I did not agree to endorse anything at all from this group of people,” Norjehan had said on her Facebook account.

In a separate posting, the G100 acknowledged that “five or six” more lawyers had asked their name to be withdrawn from the list but stressed the backers censuring Leong still exceeds 100.

“When we went for publication, we had informed the media that we have well in excess of 100 and thus the reporting was as such then.

“We chose 100 as a cut-off point of reference and included the first 100 names who wanted to join us,” the group said in a Facebook posting late last night.

It added the term ‘G100' now is merely a brand as its supporters are beyond that.

“Meanwhile, we are grateful for the overwhelming support received from other fellow members of the Malaysian Bar who affirm our views in respect of our press statement of Feb 21, 2015 and have indicated their willingness to be added to the list of 100 names therein.

“We are currently vetting the additional names received and will consider updating the list of names in the near future,” it said.

Last Saturday, the G100 issued a statement criticising Leong’s remark that the Federal Court's decision to send opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to jail was a “persecution”.

The 100 signatories had demanded that Leong retract his statement, failing which he should resign.

Leong has insisted that the Bar Council is non-partisan and is merely standing up for justice.

The Federal Court on Feb 10 upheld Anwar’s sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence.