The Bar Council has called on the legal fraternity to converge at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters for a solidarity candlelight vigil for lawyer Matthias Chang.
"The Malaysian Bar will hold a vigil today outside of Dang Wangi station at 8.30pm for Matthias Chang and to uphold independence of Bar," lawyer Syahredzan Johan said on Facebook .
Syahredzan is the co-chairperson of the Bar's National Young Lawyers Committee.
Office bearers including Steven Thiru, the President will be there. Members of the Bar are encouraged to join.
— Syahredzan bin Johan (@syahredzan) October 8, 2015
The call comes after former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan urged members of the legal fraternity to head to the police district headquarters to show solidarity with Chang.
Chang was detained this afternoon under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).
“The arrest of Chang is an assault on legal profession and the rule of law! Just when you thought they could not stoop any lower,” she said on Twitter .
Ambiga rushed to the Dang Wangi station with senior lawyer Tommy Thomas upon hearing the news and is trying to see Chang.
Chang was arrested under the security law for accompanying his client Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who has lodged complaints about 1MDB with enforcement agencies abroad.
Khairuddin is also detained under Sosma, which provides for detention without trial for up to 28 days.
Here at Dang Wangi with Tommy Thomas to see Mathias. Lawyers must show solidarity.
— Ambiga Sreenevasan (@Ambiga_S) October 8, 2015
The arrest of Mathias Chang is an assault on legal profession and the rule of law! Just when you thought they could not stoop any lower...
— Ambiga Sreenevasan (@Ambiga_S) October 8, 2015
Ambiga, who managed to visit Matthias along with Tommy, told Malaysiakini the detained lawyer is "in good spirits".
She said they will know how long Chang will be detained under Sosma tomorrow, as there is a 24-hour initial period of investigation following the arrest.
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