KOTA KINABALU: Abuse or harassment against lawyers is unacceptable and an affront to the rule of law.
Sabah Law Society (SLS) president Datuk Mohd Nazim Maduarin said the society had received information that lawyers involved in Zara Qairina Mahathir’s inquest have been, and still are subjected to online abuse, threats, and intimidation.
“SLS has been monitoring these developments from the outset, and it is now necessary to state our position clearly.
“SLS takes such matters with utmost seriousness.
“It must be clearly understood that all lawyers, whether representing parties, holding a watching brief, or appearing in any other professional capacity, are simply doing their jobs as officers of the court,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Nazim said that every person deserves the right to representation, and lawyers provide this to the best of their abilities within the framework of the law.
“To target or threaten them for fulfilling this duty is to undermine the justice system itself.
“The SLS stands behind its members. We stand behind them, to ensure justice is served.”
Apart from lawyers, the inquest’s first witness forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu had also lodged police report after she was notified of threats against her.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
