PETALING JAYA: Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh wants Attorney General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail to explain why lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has been appointed to represent Registrar of Societies (ROS) in a case filed by DAP against the ROS.
“I call upon the AG to publicly explain why Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was appointed and state the remuneration agreed to be paid to him,” Karpal said in a statement today.
The party resorted to legal action against the ROS after the government agency failed to recognise the party’s internal polls that was held in Sept last year.
DAP conducted the party polls due to irregularities in tabulating the number of votes when the party held its polls in Dec 2012.
Karpal added that Shafee’s appointment gives the impression that the AG’s Chambers were short-staffed.
“Is the AG’s Chambers so devoid of personnel of calibre to attend to prosecutions and civil proceedings in courts?” he said.
“Must the taxpayers, in addition to be responsible for the salaries and other benefits for those employed in the AG’s Chambers, also make provision for payment to Shafee for his services as an advocate and solicitor to the AG’s Chambers.
“What is the need for the duplication of these monetary benefits at the expense of the tax-payer?” he added.
Karpal added that the AG should only invoke section 24(3) of the Government Proceedings Act, 1956 that allows for a lawyer to represent the Attorney General if the Chambers does not have the expertise.
“The civil proceedings against the ROS do not require any special expertise. The appointment of Shafee at the expense of the taxpayers is unwarranted and an unnecessary burden on the tax-payer and his appointment should, accordingly, be revoked.
“The earlier it is done, the better for the taxpayers and the national interest,” Karpal added.
