Apologise over ‘shameful’ tribunal for ex-EC commissioners, lawyer tells AG

(Malaysiakini) – Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla has urged attorney-general Tommy Thomas to correct his “constitutional and judicial mistakes” pertaining to the tribunal to investigate the alleged misconduct by the Election Commission (EC) in the run-up to the 14th general election.

In a statement today, Haniff also asked Thomas to apologise to the prime minister, and the government, over the matter, which he claimed had created a constitutional crisis.

Haniff pointed out that lawyer M Puravelan, who was appointed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers to assist the tribunal, had himself told the five-member tribunal in Klang, on the first day of proceeding, that the matter has been rendered academic, regardless of the outcome, due to the resignation of the six commissioners, whose alleged misconduct were being probed by the tribunal.

“How can a lawyer appointed by Thomas, have conflicting views with the attorney-general, on the relevance of the tribunal? Such shameful conflicts, involving the constitution, should have never been allowed to happen.

“Alternatively, if the AG had intended to set-up the tribunal to probe the alleged wrongdoings of the six commissioners, why did he not counsel the prime minister, to advice the Yang di-Pertuan Agoing to reject the commissioners’ resignation letters, until after the tribunal was set up and a decision was made, or, (their resignations) to be accepted with conditions, subject to the tribunal’s findings?” Haniff asked.