LAWYER Syazlin Mansor was withdrawn by the Attorney-General’s Chambers from the Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim inquest as she was representing three parties which was a conflict of interest, said Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.

Syazlin was representing the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the family of the deceased.

“Syazlin accepted the appointment to represent the Housing Ministry and the Fire Department in the inquest when she was appointed to act on behalf of the estate of the deceased (the late Adib).

“She ought to have declined the government appointment for various reasons,” Thomas said in a statement today.

Thomas said in the first place, the Housing Ministry and the Fire Department, like all other ministries and government departments, were required to seek legal advice from Attorney-General’s Chambers (Chambers) with external counsel to be appointed by the A-G or public prosecutor.

“Secondly, Syazlin was in a conflict of interest position when she agreed to act for the Housing Ministry and the Fire Department as she was also acting for the deceased’s family, who have a direct interest in the inquest.

“The interests of these parties may conflict, and it is unacceptable for her to act for all three parties.

“Thirdly, my officers, who are performing their traditional role as counsel assisting the Coroner, have informed me that Syazlin takes an active part in the inquest, often contradicting the positions our DPPs have taken, thus causing embarrassment in her capacity as the ministry’s lawyer,” the attorney-general said.

Syazlin’s husband was also press secretary to the Minister of Housing and Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin, he said.

It was for these reasons that he asked the housing minister to immediately revoke Syazlin’s appointment as the legal representative of the ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department in the inquest.

Thomas said he was shocked to subsequently learn that Syazlin had also withdrawn from acting for the deceased’s family. She had said that the decision was voluntary and not influenced by the AGC.

“Before the inquest proceedings started yesterday, DPP Faten Hadni Khairuddin, one of the conducting officers assisting the Coroner in the inquest, personally spoke with Syazlin and informed her that AGC had no issue with her continuing to represent the deceased’s family.

“DPP Faten requested Syazlin to continue to represent the deceased’s family so that the inquest proceedings could proceed and Prof Dr Shahrom Abd Wahid could be called to further testify. Syazlin was, however, firm in her decision to withdraw.

“Prof Shahrom is an expert witness assisting the Coroner in the inquest. His role in the inquest is not affected by Syazlin’s withdrawal as counsel.

“DPP Faten informed the Coroner that the AGC is prepared to assist by subpoenaing Prof Shahrom. We will do so.”

The A-G said his statement today was to clarify the confusion and speculation following the withdrawal of Syazlin.

He has come under pressure from Malay rights group, Gerakan Pembela Ummah, who is mulling a mass protest over Syazlin’s withdrawal from the inquest.

Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahaya had earlier said the government must reveal the reason for Syazlin’s withdrawal.

He said the government’s actions had given rise to conspiracy theories that it was attempting to influence the outcome of the inquest.

“Ummah, on behalf of the people, demand that the letter instructing Syazlin to withdraw be revealed so that the people can know who wrote it and the reason for her withdrawal.

“We also demand that Syazlin, Zuraida Kamaruddin and the A-G be summoned as witnesses in the inquest so that the court can investigate if there was any pressure or devious instructions from certain quarters.”

He also said the group might organise a rally to demand justice for Adib if its demands are not met.

Aminuddin said a memorandum would be sent to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to demand Thomas’ sacking.

Fireman Adib, 24, was injured in a riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, USJ 25, Subang Jaya on November 27, 2018.

He died after 21 days on December 17 at the National Heart Institute.

An inquest was called after police could not ascertain how Adib sustained his injuries.

There were conflicting allegations that he was pulled out of his emergency and attacked by a mob, and that he was run over by a reversing fire truck in the melee.

To date, 37 witnesses have given evidence in the inquest. – May 28, 2019.