A-G to oppose interim gag order in Najib case

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 5 years ago · Published on 4 Jul 2018 2:32PM · 8 Comments

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas says the court-ordered interim gag order took the prosecution by surprise. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 4, 2018.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Tommy Thomas will oppose an interim gag order by the court in his prosecution against former prime minister Najib Razak. 

He said the gag order, requested by Najib’s lead counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, is unnecessary.

“A gag order was not something we asked for. We object to that.

“How wide is the scope of the gag order? We were taken by surprise,” said Thomas, who is leading the prosecution, during a press conference after the court proceedings today. 

The court granted Shafee’s request for an interim gag order on digital and print media, preventing them from discussing the merits of the case.

Shafee argued that the gag order is crucial to prevent statements that could affect his client’s case from being published.

He cited alleged incidents where his client had been subjected to a “trial by media”, even before today’s court appearance.

Judge Sofian Abd Razak permitted the interim gag order on the media, which prevents the publication of statements or materials on the merits of Najib’s case.

He said Shafee needs to apply to make the gag order permanent, and the interim order is valid for only 14 days.

Thomas said he will wait and see what the gag order entails before applying to strike it out.

Earlier in court, he said he will oppose the gag order as it curbs freedom of speech, which is important when it comes to high-profile cases such as Najib’s.

“We will object strenuously. The rest of the world is talking about it. The rest of the world will be commenting on the case, and Malaysians would be keeping quiet. 

“They need to make a formal application. We will vigorously oppose.” – July 4, 2018.

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Comments

  • The gag order makes for a fairer trial, as many comments are uneducated, based on unwarranted emotion and simply "fan the flames". Not good at all..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • This keep the mouth shut order already exists pertaining to this matter when it first happened. I do not think you can close it even if you make an Oath. Therefore to live in peace and harmony you must pretend to be deaf, dumb and and blind.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tong Hai Ong · Reply

  • This is the problem of Umno. They wanted to hide from the rakyat, but the whole world knows about it. Funny isn't it? Local news cannot be reported in own country but it was widely reported round the world

    Posted 5 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • Even being charged, still the old habit of trying to apply "information blackout". Some people don't change, do they?

    Posted 5 years ago by Groundbreaking Views · Reply

  • This judge... Sofian AR, is he corrupted too !!!! Looks and sound like to me.

    Posted 5 years ago by Anthony Kong · Reply

  • Gag order !!! The whole world is talking about it and we Malaysians got gagged !!! Is the judge stupid or corrupted too.

    Posted 5 years ago by Anthony Kong · Reply

  • The only one who needs to be gagged is Najib himself.

    Posted 5 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • Agreeing to a "gag order" without defining what or who is gagged does not augur well for transparency, integrity of our courts. A good number of Malaysians have yet to grasp the difference between 42 million and 42 billion and 1 Trillion ringgit but opulence symbolised by designer handbags and pink diamond is educational for many on the excesses of unchecked greed and corruption. Our court is on trial here as well and they need to demonstrate they are independent and can provide sound basis for their judgements.

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply