“To say US AG (Lynch) also appears together with President Barack Obama on the same stage (without anyone saying anything) is totally wrong.”
He said this in response to Wan Azmir’s statement today in Sinar Harian that calls for Apandi to step down for “dancing with ministers” is without basis.
Ahmad Nizam said under the American Constitution, their AG was a part of the presidential Cabinet and the position was appointed by the President.
“Our friend (Wan Azmir) does not understand the mechanisms of American administration,” he added.
Wan Azmir had told the Malay daily today that those who asked Apandi to step down showed they had nothing else better to pick on.
He said Lynch had appeared on the same stage with Obama but this did not mean they had shared interests.
In a 26-second video, Apandi was seen dancing with a few ministers, namely Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili as well as Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said and Nancy Shukri during a Merdeka Day parade.
Former Batu Kawan Umno Deputy Chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan had said Apandi should resign as Apandi had “crossed a professional and ethical line” by dancing publicly with Cabinet members.
He submitted memorandums to the AG’s Chambers and Prime Minister’s Office calling on Apandi to quit.
Ahmad Nizam said Apandi must observe “corum decorum”, or proper conduct, and be seen as non-partisan in his office as a public officer.
“This is a fundamental principle.”
“As I know, no AG has ever resorted to such conduct,” he said, describing Apandi’s action of dancing with ministers as uncalled for.
“This tarnishes the sanctity of his office.”
However, another lawyer, Syahredzan Johan, had a different take on calls for Apandi to step down.
“Apandi need not resign because of that video.
“The conduct may not be appropriate. But I would not go so far as to say that he needs to resign just because of that.”