KUALA LUMPUR: Bar Council President George Varughese has clarified that he did not propose Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan to be appointed as the next Attorney-General (AG).
George in a statement said the circumstance under which such an impression was created was purely accidental.
“We refer to several press reports stating that the Malaysian Bar had proposed Ambiga Sreenevasan to be appointed as the AG.
“I was asked a question as to whether Ambiga possessed the qualities of a person suitable for the position of the Attorney General, to which the reply was in the positive.
“However, it was taken to mean that the Malaysian Bar had proposed or endorsed the appointment of Ambiga as the AG,” he said.
George reiterated that such an impression is inaccurate and unfortunate.
“There is no doubt that there are several other candidates who are also qualified and suitable for the post,” he added.
Varughese reportedly said that Ambiga would be independent and free from political pressure, as well as enjoyed the confidence of the public and the legal fraternity.
He added that the AG was the principal legal adviser to the government thus it was important for the prime minister to have someone who was competent regardless of race, religion and gender.