“We wish to clarify that the circumstances under which such an impression was created was purely accidental,” Bar president George Varughese said in a statement.

Varughese said he had been asked whether Ambiga possessed the qualities of a person suitable for the position of AG, to which he replied “in the positive”.

“The same was, however, taken to mean that the Malaysian Bar has proposed or endorsed the appointment of Ambiga as AG,” he added.

He said this impression was both inaccurate and unfortunate as there were several other candidates who were also suitable for the post.

Varughese previously said Ambiga as the AG would be independent and free from political pressure, and would also enjoy the confidence of the public and the legal fraternity.

However, this invited a rebuke from former Bar president Manjeet Singh Dhillon, who said the body representing lawyers in the peninsula should not play the role of “cybertrooper”.

The Muslim Lawyers Association also opposed the suggestion for Ambiga to be made the new AG, calling it “poor judgment”.

AG post: Bar, don’t play role of cybertrooper

Muslim lawyers body hits out at Bar for proposing Ambiga as AG

Bar proposes Ambiga as the next attorney-general