A motion of no confidence against the attorney-general and the inspector-general of police is expected to be tabled at the 58th Malaysian Bar annual general meeting scheduled to take place on March 20.

The motion was drafted by lawyer P Uthayakumar who expressed dissatisfaction over the public office bearers' failure to investigate into cases of deaths at the hands of the police and the Kampung Medan 'racial clash' which took place in 2000.

He urged the Malaysian Bar to "caution, censure and condemn the AG and IGP for their lack of seriousness in the exercise of their constitutional and statutory duties".

The Bar should also call upon the two officials to commence immediate inquiries into the abovementioned cases and to institute criminal proceedings against relevant police personnel, said Uthayakumar.

The resolution was submitted to the Bar Council secretariat last week.

Human rights director

Meanwhile, Uthayakumar also urged the Bar Council to take a more pro-active role in highlighting police abuse of power cases.

He said the Bar Council should issue media statements registering its protest over all reported cases of custodial or mysterious deaths caused by police actions.

"The Bar should also write to the AG and the Chief Justice within 48 hours of each and every case that is reported in the media or brought to its attention. (It) must call for urgent and immediate inquiries pursuant to Sections 334, 337 and 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code."

In the event that inquiries are held, the lawyer said the Bar Council should show adequate concern by sending lawyers of at least seven years' standing for watching briefs.

In addition, Uthayakumar said the Bar should appoint a senior executive director of human rights from among human rights lawyers with at least 10 years' experience to head a fact-finding mission into the Kampung Medan incident.

"(The appointee) is to embark on research work on human rights issues; draw up guidelines for Bar Council lawyers on procedures for watching briefs; monitor, take action and advise the Bar Council accordingly on matters concerning human rights violations," he said.

The lawyer also suggested that the Council set aside RM100,000 in funds to finance the fact-finding mission.

He had earlier threatened to call for the removal of the Bar Council leadership at the annual general meeting (AGM) for not showing sufficient interest in inquests into cases of custodial death, an accusation refuted by Bar Council chairperson Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari.

30-minute meeting

In a related matter, Uthayakumar said the police watch and human rights committee will be meeting with members of the royal police commission tomorrow afternoon.

The committee, a watchdog group set up by the pro tem Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia, has been given a 30-minute slot to make a presentation and submit a memorandum to the commission members.

He said the memorandum will call for the commission's attention over three issues:

  • an estimated 1.3 persons die each week as a result of police shootings

  • an estimated two persons die each week while they are held in police custody

  • six deaths and more than 100 others injured during the Kampung Medan incident