Abdul Malik Ishak JCA:

[1] Enclosure 4 is an application by the applicant/appellant for an extension of time to file his notice of appeal against the decision of the Disciplinary Board ('the DB') given on 31 March 2005.

[2] At the commencement of the hearing of this application on 26 September 2005, the learned counsel for the applicant/appellant, Mr Manokaran, objected to the presence of the counsel for the DB, namely, Mr Su Tiang Joo and Ms Michelle Ong on the ground that the DB is not a party to the proceeding.

[3] Mr Su, however, informed the court that he and Ms Ong were before the court merely as counsel for a party (the DB) that had been served with the cause papers by the appellant; or, alternatively, he (and his co-counsel) was before the court, on behalf of the DB, as a friend of the court (that is to say as amicus curiae). Mr Su made it clear to the court that he was not taking a partisan stand and that he was before the court merely to bring to the attention of the court all the materials available before the DB pertaining to the applicant's case.

[4] Considering that the counsel for the applicant/appellant appears to have no strong objection to Mr Su and Ms Ong app