Kudos to Bar Council, keep the momentum going
YOURSAY ‘Why no gangsters, like what happened in Penang last Sunday?’
Lawyers march against Sedition Act
Peacemaker: Thank you Bar Council and the participants who made the historic walk against the draconian law. We need more professional bodies to come out to declare their stand against any form of discrimination and promote justice for all.
We need a system that values freedom of speech and advocates intellectual engagement, irrespective of political stand.
Enlightened : Congratulations to the Bar Council. I'm glad that the event went on smoothly, without any untoward incident. I hope the government will respect the public feedback as promised.
Caesar: Why no gangsters like what happened in Penang last Sunday? Not because they are outnumbered - but were they told to stay away?
Baiyuensheng: We need the Sedition Act to deal with extremists and terrorists - like those hooligans in Penang. We need draconian laws to deal with evil people. We need the Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain people without trial, so that we can lock away Isis terrorists.
You will be surprised at how many Isis sympathisers are there in this country... even our PM is an admirer of the 'courageous acts' of Isis. If these sympathisers start to house these Isis terrorists in the country, you and I will be slaughtered, like those in Syria and Iraq.
Your wife, daughter and mother will become their sex slave-like trophies. These perverted people are no longer human but the soldiers of Satan. We need the Sedition Act and must bring back the ISA!
Seriously guys think about it, it is not the law that is bad, it is the execution. Even a good law can turn bad if selective justice is practised. If Pakatan comes to power, how will the government then deal with Isis terrorists in Malaysia?
There are about 12,000 Bar Council members - and only 600 turned up! It is a failure. Surprisingly not many lawyers share the same view. This is depressing.
Disbeliever: Baiyuensheng, I don't think that this march is a failure; for one there are more lawyers outside the Klang Valley, secondly those in KL may have prior engagements like a court hearing, meeting with clients, etc.
The march itself is an awareness event and is covered by the local as well as the international media. What is more important is getting the message across. We wish the lawyers every success.
They could have just sat in their air-conditioned law firms but instead chose to walk - to bring awareness to the people and to pressure the government to repeal this archaic Sedition Act.
Doc: Wonder if the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) will call all these 600 lawyers in for questioning.
Bobster: Lawyers and judges who can't even stand up for truth and righteousness, justice and human rights, better quit their profession as these are fundamental basic needs of their profession. Unfortunately many can't even uphold these basic requirements. Kudos to the Bar Council for standing up against an oppressive regime.
Anonymous_1388029052: Syabas Bar Council! What about other professional bodies like those for doctors (MMA), architects (MIA), accountants (PAM), etc ? Are they not concerned about the dire situation in the country?
Jaycee: Kudos to the lawyers, but unfortunately, here in Bolehland, the minority government is going to continue to crack down on all who speak against this evil regime. I have even set aside bail money in the event I am hauled to jail for sedition.
Anak, bangsa, malaysia: Good. Keep the momentum going. It is obvious that Najib Abdul Razak is using the Sedition Act to stifle the opposition front. I am sure the spirit of Tiger of Jelutong is in your midst.
Come, let us all be seditious!
Jiminy Qrikert: Malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone, I am surprised you took the opportunity to praise the police in your article. 'Honestly, I felt as though I was being ticked off by my editor!' surely is an undeserved compliment for the police by placing your interrogator at par with your editor in terms of intelligence, coherent thought and logical expression. You are too magnanimous even as you are brave and humble.
Onyourtoes: "In this country one does not know where to draw the line. You are seditious just as long as you offend the 'right' group. It does not really matter what you say." I love this. Susan, you are good, braver than many politicians, I must say.
Nonono: Victor Hugo is right. There are just not enough prisons for 51 percent of our population. Maybe we should just let the jailers stay in the prisons instead.
Haveagreatday: Thank you, Susan, for giving such an eloquent reason as to why we, the rakyat, must not be cowed by the fear tactic in the use of the Sedition Act by the Umnoputras!
We made the mistake, collectively, during that ex-dictator's 22-year reign, when we allowed him to chip away and deny us our civil liberties and democratic rights. Yes, Susan, we must continue to ask those difficult questions and take our leaders to account for their shortcomings, Sedition Act notwithstanding!
Anonymous #19098644: This charge that Ms Susan is facing is the best confirmation you can get that you are a professional journalist with the highest principles. Only criminals, people with bad conscience will get angry and frightened by the the truth. The truth will set you free!
You will look back on this episode when the time comes, when you must make the journey that all of us do at the end of our lives. You will be able to meet your Creator, your ancestors and your God with a clear conscience.
Disbeliever: Susan, you have my utmost respect. I salute you and your profession. I've a son who is also a journalist and at times I worry for him; I dread the day that I might see him in handcuffs, since almost everything seems to be seditious nowadays. I pray for his safety and the safety of all true journalists.
It just shows that the pen is mightier than the sword. I believe that all right-thinking people all over the world will support you and all those journalists who report the truth without fear or favour. God bless you and all true journalists and may He keep you all in His care.
Anonymous #28709072: Susan, I salute you! Should you go to jail, I will volunteer to take your place!
Ramesh Rajaratnam: I will visit you in case you are jailed, unless I'm also sitting in the same lock-up.
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