HIS OPINION: Azlan talking about his disappointment at the press conference. — Bernama photo
PETALING JAYA: Mohd Saiful Bukhari’s father Azlan Mohd Lazim yesterday made a plea to the Attorney-General to file an appeal against Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to acquit and discharge opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from a sodomy charge.
“For the sake of my son, I plead to the AG to file an appeal. I hope the AG is not influenced by the Bar Council or any other parties to not file the appeal,” he told a press conference at his home in Bandar Utama here.
He was commenting on Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee’s statement suggesting that the AG should not appeal the High Court’s decision which was delivered on Monday (Jan 9).
Azlan, 58, said the Bar Council’s stand was seen as an erosion of a citizen’s constitutional right to appeal for justice to the highest level of the legal system.
“The Bar Council should be neutral in observing the carrying out of justice and not do the opposite,” he said.
“Does the council’s stand represent all Malaysian lawyers or only certain politically inclined individuals in the council?” he asked.
Azlan further questioned the council’s failure to object to Anwar’s numerous appeals throughout the proceedings of the trial.
“This is the first time we want to appeal and we are told not to. Why the ‘double standard’?” he said.
“Is it because my son’s a nobody, not a VIP or politician, his right is denied just like that?” he added.
Azlan emphasised that as a father, he would carry on fighting for justice for his son.
When asked about his son, he said,”Saiful’s okay, he’s now working in Kuala Lumpur.” — Bernama