Don't behave like Pakatan party, Umno tells Bar
The Malaysian Bar has continued to come under attack for calling on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to drop his suit against news portal Malaysiakini .
Umno supreme council member Irmohizam Ibrahim ( left ) said the Bar must not behave like a component party of Pakatan Rakyat.
Irmohizam said the Bar must remain non-partisan in upholding the law and not be seen as finding fault with the BN government all the time.
"They have to be neutral. They are practitioners of the law who should not side any political party.
"What was said by the Bar president in the issue of the prime minister suing Malaysiakini is similar to the agenda of certain quarters who cast a negative impression on the government.
"It appears as if the Bar practices selective prosecution," he told Umno Online .
Irmohizam said the time has come for the government to consider a new approach to create another "environment" which can provide balance and uniformity with regard to the Bar.
He suggested the formulation of a new law to ensure that the Bar remains on track and maintains its professionalism.
" We cannot allow the Bar to continue being lopsided. The Bar's image is soiled because a handful of their leaders are pro-opposition. This must be curbed," he added.
Describing Najib's defamation suit as setting a bad precedent, Bar president Christopher Leong ( right ) had said public figures should not resort to lawsuits to respond to allegedly defamatory criticism as good governance and accountability requires them to "endure the full brunt of free speech".
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