Five-man bench is Nizar’s last avenue

(The Star) IPOH: It will be a five-man panel who will preside over Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s appeal against a Court of Appeal’s decision declaring Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir as the rightful Perak mentri besar.

Nizar, who heard the news from his lawyers after a letter was sent by facsimile to their office on Friday, said he was disappointed.

“A case as enormous as this needs the attention of the most number of judges,” he said when contacted.

Nizar, who had earlier called for the maximum 11-judge panel, said his counsel would try and ask again for a full bench when the case is called up at the Federal Court on July 9-10.

If unsuccessful, Nizar said he saw little point to the appeal but stressed that he would not drop the case.

In a statement, Nizar’s lawyer Leong Cheok Keng expressed disappointment that the letter gave no reason or explanation for the five-man bench.

“This is our client’s last avenue of appeal. If Nizar’s application for leave is dismissed by the five-man bench, this will be the end of the litigation.”