Lawyer Syazlin Mansor, who withdrew herself as counsel from the inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, should have stayed on to represent the victim’s family if she really wanted to seek the truth.
A-G’s four reasons why Syazlin was axed:
- Conflict of interest representing Housing Ministry, Fire Dept, Adib’s family
- Often contradicted positions of DPPs, who were conducting officers in the proceedings, causing embarrassment in her capacity as the ministry’s lawyer
- Housing Ministry and Fire Dept were required to seek legal advice from the AGC with external counsel being appointed by the A-G or Public Prosecutor
- Lawyer’s husband employed as the press secretary to Housing Minister Zuraida
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Syazlin, who announced her withdrawal on Monday, should only quit as the lawyer representing the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) as well as the Fire and Rescue Department, due to conflict of interest.
He said this as it was not right for Syazlin to represent the government when she was also part of the legal counsels acting on behalf of Adib’s family.
“The ones who appointed Syazlin did not know initially that she was also the lawyer for Adib’s family. So when we found out, of course, she has to withdraw as the government counsel. But she should have stayed on to represent the family.
“She claims she wanted to seek the truth. If she wanted the truth, she can find it in court. The prime minister now no longer has power over the courts.
“If you don’t trust the court, then who do we trust for decisions,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said he was shocked to learn that Syazlin also withdrew from representing Adib’s family.
“That decision was voluntarily made by her, without any influence from the chambers,” he added.
“DPP Faten requested Syazlin to continue to represent the family so that the inquest proceedings could proceed and (forensics expert) Prof Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid could be called to further testify.
“Syazlin was, however, firm on her decision to withdraw,” he added.
Thomas also explained that Syazlin’s withdrawal would not affect Shahrom’s status as an expert witness.
Dr Mahathir also dismissed calls for Thomas to be fired over Syazlin’s withdrawal, saying the usual quarters are going at this for no reason.
When asked who should be held responsible for this, he said the lawyer was agreed upon by Minister Zuraida.
“The minister did not know the lawyer was representing Adib’s family, so you want me to sack Zuraida as well?” he joked.
On Monday, Syazlin announced her withdrawal from Adib’s case, forcing the inquest to be adjourned for three weeks.
In a statement earlier yesterday, KPKT Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s political secretary Nor Hizwan Ahmad said Syazlin withdrew herself from the inquest after she was instructed to do so by Thomas.
Thomas explained that Syazlin ought to have declined the government appointment for, among other things, having a conflict of interest due to her involvement with Adib’s family’s counsel team and as her husband was employed as press-secretary to Zuraida.
Earlier, Thomas said Syazlin caused “embarrassment” in her capacity as the lawyer for the KPKT at the Adib inquest.
Thomas explained this was one of the reasons he requested Zuraida revoke Syazlin’s appointment to represent the ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department at the inquest.
Syazlin’s appointment, said Thomas, caused a conflict of interest in the inquest proceedings because apart from representing the ministry and the department, she also stood in for Adib’s family.
“The interests of these parties may conflict and it was unacceptable for her to act for all parties.”
Thomas said both the ministry and the department were required to seek legal advice from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), with external counsels being appointed by the A-G or Public Prosecutor.
Earlier report: May 27, Adib Inquest: Housing Ministry’s Lawyer Withdraws Due to ‘New Turn of Events’