Press Statement
by Chow Kon Yeow

(Penang, Thursday): Queen’s Counsel Cherie Blare (Cherie Booth) made a surprise appearance at the Federal Court’s hearing for Fawziah Holding’s appeal over her representing the company in the Metramac case in Putrajaya yesterday.

I watched over the TV news that she was escorted by security officers from Britain and local Special Branch personnel.

QC Cherie Booth was given VIP treatment. She was driven to the Palace of Justice in a black BMW bearing the crest of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Now, the question is: “Who is who?” Why the Prime Minister’s Department gave VIP treatment to QC Cherie Booth? She was after all at Putrajaya as a QC for her application to appear before the Federal Court. Cherie Booth was not paying a visit to the Palace of Justice as the wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The British authorities did the same. They were providing VIP treatment to QC Cherie Blaire, a rare privilege for any attorney. The British public may want an answer from their Prime Minister’s Department.

We are often caught in such a situation and sometimes the no clear line is drawn up to handle such situation. In this case, (Malaysian and British) taxpayers’ monies are spent to provide VIP treatment to an attorney out for a private job-related duty.

This is a conflict of interest situation and it would be prudent for politicians to avoid.

The Prime Minister’s Department owes Malaysians an explanation.