Malaysian Bar Approves Motion Calling For Resignation Of AG
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar has debated and approved a motion calling for Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali to resign for clearing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of corruption.
The motion was voted through after a debate during the Malaysian Bar's annual general assembly at the Renaissance Hotel here today.
"The motion was passed with an overwhelming majority," a lawyer told the New Straits Times when met after the motion was debated.
The lawyer, who declined to be named, admitted that it was a non-binding resolution, and that Apandi was not compelled to resign.
Three lawyers – Charles Hector, Francis Pereira and Shanmugam Ramasamy – had proposed a motion to debate the call for Apandi to resign.
Apandi was urged to resign over his handling of the cases involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd, former 1MDB unit SRC International, and the transfer of RM2.6 billion into Najib's personal accounts.
Source: New Straits Times
MALAYSIAN BAR COUNCIL AGREED TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST SEDITION ACT?
This comes following a vote at the Bar's Extraordinary General
Meeting (EGM) to immediately organise a peaceful protest in the form of a
walk, and further such action in pushing for the repeal of the 66-year
law.
Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong said the walk was one of
eight components of a motion passed by the council, which aimed to
protest against the recent slew of sedition cases.
"We cannot afford to walk on eggshells around draconian laws. If we
are genuine, the way forward is through debate," he said, during a press
conference, after the EGM at Wisma MCA Friday.
Leong said they would need time to plan the logistics of the walk,
but it would definitely be done in the near future as "three to six
months is too long to wait," he said.
- He also confirmed that the rally would not use the name "Walk For Justice", which had been used in previous rallies by the Bar.
- The motion was voted in, with 701 votes in support and 13 against.
- A total of 986 members attended the EGM.
Among the other seven components of the motion passed include; a call
for the Malaysian Government to uphold freedom of information and
debate; academic and journalistic freedom; a call for the Attorney
General to withdraw all pending cases, charges and appeals; and for the
Government to introduce a moratarium against the use of the Act.
"The Malaysian Bar condemns the use and abuse of the Sedition Act, in
particular the selective and excessive sentences meted out by the lower
courts," said Leong.
M'SIA BAR COUNCIL SLAMS POLICE FOR HARSH TREATMENT TO WATER PROTESTERS
Regrettably, the police persists in favouring a repressive and heavy-handed approach when, as was the case on last Sunday, numerous members of the public gathered to express their viewpoint on an issue of concern to them.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The President of The Malaysian Bar Council deplores the police’s harsh treatment of ordinary citizens who showed up to support the handover of a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, especially as access to water at an affordable cost is clearly a matter of great public interest. Intimidatory tactics were employed, including the dispersal and arrest of individuals even prior to the gathering.- The police also displayed excessive and disproportionate force in their indiscriminate use of tear gas and water cannons on the crowd, he said.
Repeated calls by The Malaysian bar for the police to embrace the public’s increased articulation of viewpoints as a positive development in our society, and to accord it the necessary democratic space to flourish, continue to fall on deaf ears. The Government has indicated its intention to review section 27 of the Police Act to allow more latitude, but the actions of the police stand in stark contradiction to this avowed goal.
Accordingly, The police could have permitted the gathering to take place peacefully and with minimal disruption, while preserving public order and ensuring the safety of all participants. This approach would have dispelled any perception that the police behaves in a biased manner, and acts selectively to stifle only gatherings that voice dissenting views.- It is strongly believed that it is time for the police to take active measures to protect the Constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms of speech and assembly. It is time for the police to exercise restraint, and to cease muzzling public opinion and persecuting those who speak their minds. It is time for the police to move away from a “police state” mindset and to accept, and work within, the current environment.
- It is time, indeed it is long past the time, for the police to recognise and uphold the clear wish of the people to assemble peaceably and to express their opinions.
However,The police have denied using excessive force to break up Sunday’s water protest as alleged by the Bar Council. ASP Suffian Sulaiman from the public affairs office of the city police headquarters today said “minimum action” was used to disperse protesters gathered outside the National Mosque after they refused to move on despite being given time to do so.“In order to maintain public order in the city, the police used minimum action to disperse this group of people,” he said in an email to The Malaysian Insider.Suffian reiterated that Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 was still in force, in line with Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.,
M'SIAN BAR URGES SNAP ELECTION IN PERAK
MALAYSIAN'S POLITIC
Bar council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
Bar council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The Bar Co
uncil has reiterated its stand on the Perak constitutional crisis — let the people decide. Its president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said snap polls were now the best solution in view of new developments involving the suspension of Barisan Nasional (BN)-appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six executive councillors.
Previously the bar council has said it will be difficult to challenge to sultan's prerogative in
determining who has the majority support of the state assembly. The menteri besar's appointment is dependent on his or her majority support in the assembly.
Ambiga said there were differing views on whether Speaker V Sivakumar followed the correct procedure in the suspensions.
One view is that the Speaker and the Committee of Special Privileges were acting within the powers vested in them, while another view holds that the suspensions ought to be referred to the state assembly before they can take effect.Because of this, Ambiga said more suits are expected in the days to come.
"The legal actions are not the first and are unlikely to be the last. This is not desirable and does not provide an effective and definitive solution.
"Going back to the people of Perak will. We
urge the parties involved to seriously consider doing so, not only in the interest of the people of Perak but also in the interest of stability and the nation as a whole," she said in a press statement today.
Ambiga also noted that whether Sivakumar had followed correct procedures in ordering the suspensions, the matter lay "outside the jurisdiction of the courts" because of Article 72 of the Federal Constitution. Article 72 spells out the privileges of the all state legislative assemblies, whereby the validity of its proceedings cannot be questioned in court.
Source: Nut Graph..More..
uncil has reiterated its stand on the Perak constitutional crisis — let the people decide. Its president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said snap polls were now the best solution in view of new developments involving the suspension of Barisan Nasional (BN)-appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six executive councillors.Previously the bar council has said it will be difficult to challenge to sultan's prerogative in
determining who has the majority support of the state assembly. The menteri besar's appointment is dependent on his or her majority support in the assembly.Ambiga said there were differing views on whether Speaker V Sivakumar followed the correct procedure in the suspensions.
One view is that the Speaker and the Committee of Special Privileges were acting within the powers vested in them, while another view holds that the suspensions ought to be referred to the state assembly before they can take effect.Because of this, Ambiga said more suits are expected in the days to come.
"The legal actions are not the first and are unlikely to be the last. This is not desirable and does not provide an effective and definitive solution.
"Going back to the people of Perak will. We
urge the parties involved to seriously consider doing so, not only in the interest of the people of Perak but also in the interest of stability and the nation as a whole," she said in a press statement today.Ambiga also noted that whether Sivakumar had followed correct procedures in ordering the suspensions, the matter lay "outside the jurisdiction of the courts" because of Article 72 of the Federal Constitution. Article 72 spells out the privileges of the all state legislative assemblies, whereby the validity of its proceedings cannot be questioned in court.
Source: Nut Graph..More..
VISITORS GEOFLAGS SINCE AUGUST 26, 2009
