SRC appeal - Impact is in lawyer’s hands

SHAH ALAM - The proceedings of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s final appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, will be affected if the defence refuses to submit on Tuesday.

Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the lawyer’s refusal to submit in the former prime minister's appeal would make the proceedings incomplete.

"If no submissions were made, it will have a bad effect on the client's appeal. A lawyer should be present to submit on the facts and law to support the appeal.

"If the lawyer is not present, it will cause the client to be unrepresented. Of course the client in this case does not have the expertise to handle the appeal alone.

"I am concerned that if the client is not represented professionally, the decision of his appeal may not be in his favour,” he told Sinar Harian.

Hishamuddin was commenting on the decision made by Najib's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik who told the Federal Court that he will not make any submissions during the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday.

However, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the defence had three days to prepare.

Hishamuddin, who is also a lawyer, explained that without the defence's submissions, the court could continue with proceedings and could still make a decision.

Meanwhile, he said the defence should be prepared instead of withdrawing from representation.

"As a lawyer, we will do what we can when submitting and that is better than not being present or not making an argument at all on grounds of not being ready," he said.