KUALA LUMPUR – There is a possibility that lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik may initiate legal action against Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah following her comments on him during Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s final appeal against his SRC conviction.
He indicated in a statement to the Malay Mail that Cheah “attacked” him and his team, and will have to justify her remarks in court.
“Her press release of August 19, 2022 has attacked me and my legal team in the strongest of terms, a stance that is both mischievous and highly defamatory.
“She will have to justify her condemnation in a court of law,” he was quoted as saying.
This is not the first pushback from Najib’s lawyers over Cheah’s comments.
It was reported that Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST) on August 26 issued Cheah with a letter of demand asking for a full and unequivocal retraction and apology, and to pay compensation.
According to the letter issued on behalf of Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam, Cheah had seven days to respond from the date it was issued, otherwise they would initiate legal action against her.
On August 19, Cheah had on behalf of the Malaysian Bar issued a statement, saying the lawyers’ professional body was “aghast with the slew of developments unfolding… involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Federal Court”.
“The nation is witnessing our justice system being abused and brought to disrepute through the frantic acts and numerous attempts to postpone the hearing of the case…”
She also cited the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978, especially the parts which state that an advocate and solicitor shall not accept any brief unless he is reasonably certain of being able to appear and represent the client on the hearing dates fixed by the court.
Hisyam and ZIST were appointed by Najib after the former prime minister discharged Shafee and Co on July 25, about three weeks before the final appeal hearing.
Less than a week before that, the high court here rejected UK lawyer and Queen’s Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw’s bid to be admitted before the courts for the final appeal. – The Vibes, August 30, 2022
