Welcoming the end of emergency-related legislation six months after three emergency declarations were lifted, the Bar Council today called on the government to be more ambitious in instituting legal reforms.

NONE Lauding the lapse of the emergency legislation, Bar Council chairperson Lim Chee Wee in a statement today urged the government to continue with more of much-needed legal reforms.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tabled a motion in Parliament to lift three emergency proclamations on Nov 24, 2011, and the motion was passed later that day.

Laws made under the emergency powers, including the Emergency Ordinance, that are lifted by Parliament become void after the lapse of six months.

‘While we welcome the end of emergency-related legislation, we call on the government not to rest on its laurels. The work of law reform is only just beginning," Lim said.

For instance, many laws were still required to protect against discrimination on the basis of disabilities, sexual orientation or gender identities.

'Exhibit stronger courage in law reform'

Some existing laws also need to be reformed or abolished entirely, including those related to freedom of assembly, elections and constituency delineation and the death penalty, he said.

Lim also referred to the recently-passed Peaceful Assembly Act, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and Evidence (Amendment) (No 2) Act as legislation requiring reform or abolition.

"We call on the government to exhibit stronger courage and greater ambition when it comes to the area of law reform, including the setting up of a truly independent Law Reform Commission," he said.

The emergency laws lifted last year are:

  • The 1966 state emergency proclamation to "quell political discord" in the Sarawak;
  • The 1969 national emergency proclaimed after the racial riots of May 13, 1969; and
  • The 1977 state emergency proclamation issued to "quell political discord" in Kelantan.
Following the lifting of the emergency proclamations, the orders against three youths who were banished under the Emergency Ordinance were lifted.