ZURAIDA Kamaruddin today broke her silence on the controversial appointment of lawyer Syazlin Mansor in the Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim inquest, saying she was not advised to seek the views of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

The housing and local government minister said no one had advised her that Syazlin’s appointment as the lawyer for the ministry, as well as for firefighter Adib’s family, would cause a conflict of interest.

“I was not advised. No lawyer came to offer their services and no one said that the ministry should seek advice from the AGC,” she said.

“Therefore, we went ahead with Syazlin’s appointment,” she told reporters at an event in Petaling Jaya earlier today.

“I will now appoint a new counsel for the ministry and all the evidence we have gathered throughout the inquest will be intact. Nothing will be discounted.”

Syazlin was the ministry’s lawyer, while she was also acting on behalf of Adib’s family during the inquest.

The lawyer stepped down abruptly last week, claiming that she was asked to quit, without giving details.

However, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said in a statement later the AGC had withdrawn Syazlin’s services because her representing two parties could cause a conflict of interest in the inquest set up to discover the circumstances leading to the firefighter’s death in December last year.

Zuraida met Thomas yesterday to discuss the appointment of a new lawyer to represent the ministry.

“The A-G has affirmed that the new DPP will adopt all the evidence and submissions adduced and raised in the coroners’ court by our previous lawyer, Syazlin.

“This will also include the findings by Professor Shahrom Abdul Wahid,” she had said.

Shahrom, a forensic expert, had told the court that Adib was likely pulled out of an EMRS van and assaulted on the night of the Seafield temple riots on November 27 last year.

Two other experts, however, had concluded that Adib likely died due to injuries sustained from being hit by the vehicle in an attempt to escape the mob.

Thomas had described Syazlin’s position as a conflict of interest, and although she had been allowed to continue representing Adib’s family, she declined.

Zuraida said the DPP replacing Syazlin will act independently as the inquest’s conducting officer.

“By appointing a new conducting officer, we hope this will end wild accusations and allow the inquest to continue smoothly without disruption.”

Adib, 24, died at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on December 17. – June 3, 2019.