Is Haniff really a lawyer?

Raja Sara Petra

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s lawyer, Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak cannot sign the Surat Watikah since 16 Umno members have filed a case in court to try to get Umno declared an illegal party.

As a lawyer, Haniff must know that by merely filing a case in court that is not yet a judgement. In fact, the judge has not even ruled yet whether the case has merits to be heard or is frivolous and should be thrown out. And we do not even know yet whether the 16 who filed the case are genuine Umno members who have locus standi to file the case.

Even if the judge makes a ruling declaring Umno an illegal party, there is still the appeal at the higher courts. Until all legal avenues are exhausted Umno is still a legal party. Any lawyer would know this.

If by merely filing a case in court that means a decision has been made, then those opposition leaders who are facing court cases involving corrupt acts cannot contest GE14.