DAP stalwart Karpal Singh today called on leaders of the Bar Council to resign for allegedly bringing the entire legal profession into disrepute.

The veteran politician and senior lawyer made the call based on two issues - the council's silence on the controversy surrounding newly minted Chief Justice Zaki Azmi and an expensive dinner held at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur in April.

karpal singh 201108"I am surprised by the silence of the council on the issue of Zaki having publicly lied in his clarification about being involved in corrupt practices," he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

"It is obvious that the Bar Council for reasons best known to itself has chosen to renounce its role as the guardian of public interest by remaining silent on this momentous and great issue which should have been addressed without fear or favour a long time ago," added the Bukit Gelugor MP.

The judiciary's No 1 came under fire after English daily New Straits Times quoted him as confessing to having bribed court staff.

Zaki however issued a clarification later, saying the reporter had misinterpreted him but Karpal insisted that the chief justice was 'lying'.

New form of hospitality

On the dinner hosted by the council and attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in April, Karpal said it is interesting to note that the bill amounting to more than RM81,000 was footed by the government.

"The government through Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz on Oct 23 admitted this in Parliament. It is difficult to comprehend, how the guest had to foot the bill instead of the host. This is a new form of hospitality concocted by the Bar Council!

"To make matters worse, the bill was settled not through BN or Umno funds, but rather public funds. But the upshot is still why the Bar Council placed itself in a position of indebtedness to the executive while claiming time and again that it is independent," said Karpal, who himself is a member of the Malaysian Bar.

"In my view, the Bar Council has brought ignominy not only on itself but its 13,000 members ... the Bar Council cannot anymore operate on a high moral ground.

"And I call upon the Bar Council committee to tender their resignations for bringing the entire legal profession into disrepute," he added.

Meanwhile, Karpal also called for the repeal of section 46 (a) of the Legal Profession Act which prohibits those holding parliamentary or state assembly posts from being members in the Bar Council.

"In view of the weaknesses of the present Bar Council, I call upon the government to repeal section 46(a) to enable members of parliament and state assemblies to inject responsibility and honour into the Bar Council which is a body representing the legal profession, increasing in numbers by the month," he said.

Inappropriate and unfair position to take

In an immediate reaction Bar Council chairperson S Ambiga said that the council had not heard nor seen any evidence to contradict Zaki's denial.

"It would be wholly inappropriate and unfair for the Bar Council to take the position suggested by Karpal Singh in these circumstances.

bar council judiciary dinner 170408 ambiga inteviewed"This accords with the best traditions of the Bar not to prejudge any issue and to afford everyone a fair chance to be heard," she said in a statement.

And touching on the government-sponsored dinner, Ambiga said the council viewed "this as a positive step forward in the reform of the judiciary as it was at this dinner that there was a public acknowledgement by the government of the injustice of the 1988 crisis upon the dismissed judges".

"We viewed this and other announcements made by the prime minister as meaningful and positive steps towards judicial reform which we believe are critical," she added.

She also noted that the council was not unfamiliar with criticism, calls for the resignation of its members and other attacks against it.

She added that a few weeks ago, the Bar Council was said to be too political with an implication that it was pro-opposition.

"Today a member of the opposition has launched an attack against us calling for our members to resign over two issues with an implication that we are pro-government.

"This is itself evidences our independence," she said.