The bomb threat at the Malaysian Bar's extraordinary general meeting against the Sedition Act was found to be a hoax. 

 

The police, after scanning the premises with a canine unit for about an hour, found the premises free of any explosives. 

Earlier, lawyer Edmund Bon, who is being investigated for sedition, said that an anonymous phone call was received, warning of a bomb in Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. 

 
"Police (are) scouting. We will continue," tweeted Bon.
 
Human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen had also tweeted that the crowd "laughed off" the threat when the announcement was made. 
 
Those present had said that there are about 1,000 lawyers in the hall at the moment, who make up more than the quorum.

Despite the threat, the EGM continued with the motions and the voting process.

The Bar passed a motion to organise a peaceful protest against the recent spate of arrests under the Act, which saw politicians, activists and a law lecturer being charged for making allegedly seditious remarks.

According to Bon, the motion was carried with 701 voting in favour, while 13 against.

In immediate reaction, former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim said that the decision made him proud to be a lawyer.

"They always fight for your rights. You don't see developers engineers, accountants, towkays doing it," he tweeted.

Elections watchdog Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, meanwhile, congratulated the Bar and said Bersih will support the walk.

PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar said the decision is "explosive", while musician Pete Teo called on all to walk with the lawyers.

"(Because) they are walking for you. No more abuse of the law by authorities," he tweeted.