PKR leadership council member Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was lampooned on social media for comparing the tradition involved in the opening of the legal year with child marriage.
Among those who criticised him was his fellow party member, Latheefa Koya, who questioned what was wrong with him for making such a comparison.
Nik Nazmi earned the wrath of many when he commented on the on-stage dance by leading legal personalities, which included chief justice Richard Malanjum and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, at the opening of the legal year in Kota Kinabalu on Friday night.
He said it was a normal part of the legal profession’s tradition.
“My issue is not with the dancing, but with the issue of not maintaining a professional distance between the different branches,” Nik Nazmi had said on Twitter.
“Yes, it is tradition. But so is child marriage in parts of Malaysia. We want to change that, right? Tradition is not static and must keep up with the times.”
The comment was critically panned, including by PKR central committee member Latheefa.
“What rubbish – comparing the tradition of the Bar with child marriage? What is wrong with you?” she tweeted in response.
Twiter user Mr Han said: “Why compare child marriage and the dancing? Child marriage is a crime. Dancing between a judge, lawyer, and the A-G is just like a contractor dancing with government officer, and SPRM (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission).”
Nik Nazmi also said tradition must change: “After all, the previous opposition had criticised Barisan Nasional previously in various events/incidents for not maintaining professional distances. People voted for change, because they expect us to hold to higher standards.
“At the very least, we should be consistent in light of our criticisms in the past. As R v Sussex Justices, ex p McCarthy established: ‘Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.’
Barathi Selvam replied: “Child marriage and a bunch of people dancing aren’t the same. Damn, you were one among the people who we trusted to lead the nation. Sad.”
Twitter user Yongcb said: “Your argument is not very sound by using child marriage as example.”
Another user, Jumbaba82 said: “This is why you cannot be a mainstream leader”, while
User Burstaxon quipped: “Ini tak berapa bernas (This is not an intelligent comment).”
Yesterday, Nik Nazmi had said that senior members of the judiciary and executive should be mindful of how they mingle in public.
“Dancing at a private event is a personal matter. But at an official event, leaders of the judiciary and executive must protect the judiciary’s image as an independent institution with integrity.
“In 2016 we questioned when the attorney-general then (Mohamed Apandi Ali) and ministers danced at a Merdeka event. We must be consistent,” Nik Nazmi tweeted yesterday. – January 20, 2019.
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