KUALA LUMPUR: The atmosphere crackled with tension at the public forum as a former Malaysian Bar president and panelists engaged in passionate debates surrounding the pressing issue involving the Pardons Board.
The one-day public forum entitled "Justice and Mercy: A Forum on Reforms to the Pardons Board in Malaysia" was organised by the Malaysian Bar at its headquarters here today.
Among the panellists were Datuk Seri Najib Razak's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah Yee Lynn, legal expert's Emeritus professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi and Dr Oh Le Sun, anti-corruption activist Cynthia Gabriel, and law student representative Nur Najwa Hureen M. Madid.
The drama started during a question-and-answer session when lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon argued with the panellists over the partial pardon received by Najib.
He argued with Shafee's statement, which he claimed was incorrect regarding the royal pardons given to the former politician, the late Mokhtar Hashim, whose case was presided over in the 1980s.
"You should stop misleading the audience... I was there during the case... stop giving incorrect information.
"If I am not mistaken, the case was in 1982... Where were you at that time?" he said.
Shafee then replied that he merely spoke based on information he gathered from records obtained from a prison legal officer.
"I do not know why Mr Dhillon (Manjeet) came with this tone... Who cares if I was in the trial or not," he replied.
Manjeet also said that the former prime minister did not deserve the royal pardon and the Malaysian Bar should contest it (partial pardon) in court.
The drama continued a few minutes later when Dr Shad Saleem was fielding questions from another audience, only to be interrupted by Manjeet, who rose and interjected using a microphone provided in the hall.
This had prompted the 77-year-old law lecturer to raise his tone and say, "Let me finish my answer."
The moderator Anand Raj also intervened and asked Manjeet to allow Shad Saleem to have the floor and finish answering questions.
Later, Manjeet spoke again, telling the panellists to avoid hearsay and instead rely on confirmed facts and evidence.
"I certainly did not come to the forum to hear hearsay.
"As lawyers, we rely on factually verified documents and information. However, coming here, I often hear hearsay. Double hearsay. Wow, amazing," he said.
