PETALING JAYA: The Sabah Law Society (SLS) has categorically refuted “any suggestion of impropriety” by certain quarters over a video showing members of the legal fraternity, including Attorney General Tommy Thomas and Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, dancing on stage at its gala dinner on Jan 18.
This followed criticism by certain parties who claimed that the act of fraternising and dancing at the gala dinner at the Magellan Sutera Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah raised questions of ethical violations and conflict of interest.
SLS president Brenndon Soh said the dinner function was an annual celebratory tradition for Sabah and Sarawak after the formal ceremonial proceedings held earlier in the morning.
He described the event as “a closed-door celebration” by all stakeholders of the legal fraternity, namely members of the judiciary, the Attorney General's chambers and members of the bar.
“Thirdly, this joint event between the bench and bar has occurred since 2001, and it is the hallmark of a mature legal community.
“It is, therefore, very disappointing that certain groups are attempting to politicise what is essentially a social and harmonious occasion reflective of our Sabahan and Sarawakian hospitality,” he said.
The real "twist", Soh added, was in the facts.
“We have faith that our society is similarly mature enough to recognise that the individuals in the video are able to separate their professional life from the personal.
“It would be a sad day for our legal community if members feel constrained from dancing at an annual social occasion such as the Opening of the Legal Year Gala Dinner 2019 as a result of such unsubstantiated criticism,” he concluded.
The viral clip shows activist lawyers Siti Kasim and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, as well as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, dancing to the classic Chubby Checker 60s hit Let’s Twist Again at the gala dinner.
