KOTA KINABALU: Threatening lawyers representing various parties in the Zara Qairina Mahathir inquests will undermine the justice system, Sabah Law Society (SLS) president Datuk Mohd Nazim Maduarin warns.
He said that the SLS had received information that lawyers involved in the Zara Qairina inquest have received and continue to face online abuse, threats, and intimidation.
"SLS takes such matters with utmost seriousness. Abuse or harassment against lawyers—whether online or otherwise—is unacceptable and an affront to the rule of law," he said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 11).
He said the public must fully understand that all lawyers were "simply doing their jobs as officers of the court" whether representing parties, holding a watching brief, or appearing in any other professional capacity in the inquest.
"Every person deserves the right to representation, and lawyers provide this to the best of their abilities within the framework of the law. To target or threaten them for fulfilling this duty is to undermine the justice system itself," he said.
Mohd Nazim said SLS stood behind its members to ensure justice is served.
He said the legal body had been monitoring the developments over the threats and abuses against lawyers in the case from the outset and wants to make their position clear on the matter.
Social media has been abuzz with various accusations and threats against lawyers representing certain parties in the case on claims of bias.
