PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur High Court today disqualified PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyer, N Surendran from acting as the latter’s counsel in a suit against Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad.
Justice Rosilah Yop, in a verdict made in chambers, said that the decision was made after taking into consideration that Surendran is also a PKR vice president.
“As a PKR vice president, the judge felt that I will not be able to maintain my professional duty as Anwar’s counsel,” said Surendran, when contacted.
The judge, however, did not disqualify Subang MP R Sivarasa from acting as Anwar’s lawyer.
On March 8 last year, Anwar filed civil suits against Utusan Malaysia, its group editor-in-chief Abdul Aziz Ishak, Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3), its group managing editor Shahruddin Abdul Latif and Buletin Utama news editor Ing Boon Seng for RM100 million, for allegedly linking the PKR chief to the Lahad Datu incursion.
Subsequently, the Malay daily applied to the judge to dismiss Surendran and Sivarasa from acting as Anwar counsels, as the duo were PKR leaders as well.
On their next course of action, Surendran said that Anwar would file an appeal against the decision at the Court of Appeal soon.
“The decision will have wide ranging implications to the legal profession. It will disallow other political party leaders from acting as lawyers for their members,” said the Padang Serai MP.
With Surendran out, former Bar Council president S Ambiga would act as Anwar’s lead counsel pending the appeal.
