Shafee, who was lead prosecutor on the case, has given interviews to local daily New Straits Times on at least two separate occasions since the final verdict, defending himself and attacking Anwar. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has invited critics of prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah today to “face him” in a dialogue organised by the wing’s cadre training academy tomorrow.

The private practice lawyer who drew fire for his controversial remarks about Datuk Anwar Ibrahim, even after sending the Opposition Leader to jail last Tuesday, has been confirmed for an event held by the Akademi Kepimpinan Kapten Hussein (Akhi).

“Open dialogue with Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah. All are invited. Those who write a lot like law professors in FB are welcomed,” Khairy wrote in Malay on his public Facebook page, using an abbreviation for the social media platform.

“Don’t just be keyboard warriors. This is your chance to go face-to-face with Shafee.”

In an invitation on its Facebook page, Akhi said the dialogue session will give the audience a chance to “hear his explanations”.

The Umno Youth cadre training academy had earlier this month organised a forum featuring controversial minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

A screen grab of the invitation on Akhi’s Facebook page.

PKR Youth had told Shafee today to participate in an open debate on Anwar’s sodomy conviction, instead of condemning critics of the case.

DAP’s Gobind Singh Deo also said yesterday that Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail must explain the continued attack and criticism towards Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, even after the Opposition Leader was convicted and sent to jail.

Shafee, who was lead prosecutor on the case, has given interviews to local daily New Straits Times on at least two separate occasions since the final verdict, defending himself and attacking Anwar, despite his limited role as a public prosecutor-by-fiat for the case.

In another interview with Umno-owned broadsheet Utusan Malaysia yesterday, Shafee insisted that there was no conspiracy behind the case and slammed Anwar’s supporters for perpetuating what he claimed was a ploy to gain sympathy.

Last week, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling that had reversed Anwar’s acquittal of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, and sentenced the Permatang Pauh lawmaker to five years’ jail.