FreeMalaysiaToday reports that the AG confirmed that ‘deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Farah Azlina Latif has been dropped from the prosecution team in the sodomy trial of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’ following upon RPK’s allegation that Farah was inappropriately involved with star witness, Saiful.
Not only that, the AG also confirmed that for the same reason, Farah has been dropped altogether from the Prosecution Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
He, however, insisted that she had been dropped not because she was guilty of the matter alleged, but to avert any negative public perception on the prosecution team.
However, in so explaining, the AG may have inadvertantly given away more than he had intended or he might have wrongly cast aspersions on a young woman’s reputation.
Which is it?
“The Attorney-General’s Chambers cannot compromise on any issue that can tarnish the image or credibility of the department and we are looking at such matters very seriously. This can be very difficult for us but any personal matter, if it can have any implication in whatever form on the department, will be handled very seriously”, he is reported as saying.
Now, the action taken has all but ended any career prospects Farah may have had in the AG’s Chambers. We should not be at all surprised if, in the near future, we hear that she has resigned from the service.
Seen that way, if there was no truth to the allegation, one would have expected the AG to stand by his officer and not abandon her in what must surely be a difficult time for her.
One would have expected him to condemn the allegation as outright lies.
Which he has not done.
The AG’s chambers has instead taken very serious and drastic action, as they rightly should and, as the AG has said would be taken, where a personal matter of an officer implicates the department.
Does not this serious action, then, in itself, confirm that there was a personal matter involving the officer concerned, a matter of sufficient gravity to warrant the drastic action that has been taken?
In the absence of a fuller explanation from the AG as to what that ‘personal matter’ might be, would the public not be entitled to reason that there must have been truth in RPK’s allegation, even if not whole, at least in part?
If there is in fact no truth to the allegation, the DPP’s reputation should not be sullied by the natural inference to be drawn from the action that has been taken against her, without any further explanation.
On the other hand, if the personal matter does somehow involve the witness, has not the entire proceedings been irretrievably compromised?
After all, as the AG himself conceded, is it not public perception that is paramount?
The People's Parliament 
KH Chan
July 28, 2010
Can’t they just sue RPK? After all Farah’s a lawyer. And Saiful sued people before I think.
vasantha
July 28, 2010
dear Haris,
Action is admission of guilt. They
should really drop this disgraceful trial.Anwar should be allowed to make his own case to his Maker one day.Until then Powers that be should look into other pressing matters like putting more money into the average worker’s pocket. Some of the issues given importance in this country is really hillarious and baffles one’mind. Makes one want to ask, ‘is this person for real!’
Check it out
July 28, 2010
There are times silence do convey a message.
A very very loud message.
At least the AG has taken precautionary step to remove that character before things blew up uncontrollably.
This tells us two things:
1. The AG has wised up.
2. Someone from the government, at last, is taking RPG seriously.
LibangLibu
July 28, 2010
Tuan Harris,
Do you think they will ISA that poor girl? For her own safety??
Like they did against a journalist not long ago.
telur dua
July 28, 2010
Trust Mr Petai to do the right thing and pigs can fly.
old english student
July 28, 2010
Well, if what I read from the newspaper report is true, then the AG has confirmed what he did not want to confirm.
Any case, I don’t see that the AG angry and calling RPK a liar and that this fella is all about spreading lies to bring repute to this wonderful Gomen.
Nope! Don’t see it. So did Raja Petra finally hit the nail on the head with this story??? Time will tell.
What is the Syariah court going to do? Prosecute these 2! Wouldn’t look good to see the accuser facing trial in another court even though it is a religious court. Time will tell.
La
July 28, 2010
What bullock this Gani is talking; preserving integrity and averting public’s negative perception.
Gani and some of the senior DPPs like Yusof and Nordin; what integrity have they got now or left after sodomy 1. These people have got no integrity. They allowed themselves to be prostituted by Umno and Umno used them to fight their political enemy. The public already have long ago a very negative perception of Gani and his senior DPPs.
The one appearing in sodomy 2 trial is not the prosecuting team but Umno’s prostituting team.
saffron gal
July 28, 2010
if he’s not saying what he’s just said, we all know what he’s saying anywez.
Devan
July 28, 2010
Both of them should be prosecuted for Zina or whatever including those 2 FROGS in Perak who HAD sex with the Chinadolls !!!!!!!!!!!
Harussani the so-called Smart Mufti and riots/racial problems creator….please answer??????
amoker
July 28, 2010
A miscarriage of justice. The case would have unravelled by now.
Secondly, both Saiful and the lady would need to be investigated for their affair. Of course the Islamic councils would not be so quick feet about this.
wandererAUS
July 29, 2010
It started as a joke with her bed mate but, Farah carried the joke too far! Hence, the saiful chap got his zip down and everything ran wild!!! AG, promote her as your personal assistant…you too can give it a go! Don’t worry about your integrity…there’s nothing to cry about.
shar101
July 29, 2010
For someone on whose shoulder lay the ultimate burden of upholding the laws of the nation, the AG utters “Gobbledegook” for the benefit of the uninformed.
If the affair between Saiful and Farah is true as alleged by RPK who happens to be in a country far away from home, how was it possible that the AG and his officers were not privy to the shenanigans under their very noses?
Euphemistically, it’s like tearing up a marriage certificate but leaving a used condom as evidence whilst saying “No consummation! I want out!”.
The AG is an egghead with egg on his face. And it’s self-inflicted.
Therein lies the paradox.
shakuntala
July 29, 2010
Mr. AG is seemingly diplomatic in this case. He is implying that Farah Latif did what she did.
He does not want to appear, at the same time to being vindictive. Reference to a personal matter, does need explation…
In any case, the damage has been done.
We’ve had a laugh, let’s be frank.
ben
July 29, 2010
another case of Guilty Until Proven Innocent perhaps??
yc
July 29, 2010
so if one was to make an allegation against the AG himself, would he resign/ remove himself from the case for the purpose of avoiding “negative perceptions”
Check it out
July 30, 2010
Nope, it will never happen that way.
Instead that guy who made the complain would find himself eating curry rice everyday in Kamunting.
design
July 29, 2010
What does this whole episode tell you about this fellow Saiful?
anna brella
July 31, 2010
That he is lying through his teeth for some personal advantage to himself and some other?
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
asianguy
July 29, 2010
“The Attorney-General’s Chambers cannot compromise on any issue that can tarnish the image or credibility of the department…”. What a farcical statement, coming from a subservient Attorney-General who already has absolutely no “image or credibility” left to defend in anyone’s eyes!
Sharing
August 2, 2010
What had AG done so far in holding national Justice against Corruptions, malice practice of the Government officials and those scandals on Projects, such as the Steel Factory and PKFZ, blow-up of Mongolian lady,…etc..?
AG breaches their duty in keeping silent to a notorious senior lawyer cheating and assaulting clietns case in Penang. Breach of their Duty and ignore the criminal proceedings.
They manipulate cases and laws!! They have no way to justify being called Attorney General!!WHO ARE THEY??
Eastern Guy
July 29, 2010
Just drop sodomy II trial – habis cerita
mf
July 30, 2010
How long is the AG service contract? Its seems like he has been sitting on that chair since forever. The other head has been extended way past his shelf life with the excuse that there are no other qualified person for that position in Malaysia, only he is qualified. The AG also same? Are they the batman & robin team of commissioner gordojib?
I am not knowledgeable on this at the moment.
Thank you
drrafick
August 1, 2010
Harris
Fair assumption but there is also a possibility that
(1) She was removed because AG dont want the headache that might arise if she is kept on the team
(2) Let see what happen on monday
didi
August 12, 2010
“The Attorney-General’s Chambers cannot compromise on any issue that can tarnish the image or credibility of the department…”
Then they should have not proceeded with this trial. If anything they are the ones tarnishing the image of the department.
Bigjoe
August 13, 2010
If they were not guilty, no way the AG would not have used it to cast bad light on the other side. They sling mud everytime they can. If you hand them a stone or a bomb, they won’t throw it?
Like the Chinese say, which cat does not eat fish?