The Malaysian Bar's protest in front of the Bukit Aman police headquarters this afternoon witnessed a poor turnout of around 30 people, which also included activists.

This was despite the Bar Council issuing a circular asking members of the Bar to attend the protest against what has been described as police interference in its affairs.

Police are recording the statements of three lawyers in connection with a motion tabled at the recent Malaysian Bar annual general meeting, calling on attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali to resign.

Those summoned to the police headquarters were Charles Hector, Francis Pereira and R Shanmugam.

The three entered the police headquarters about 2.40pm.

The Bar's secretary Karen Cheah also had her statement recorded earlier today at the Bar Council secretariat.

The three lawyers came out of the Bukit Aman headquarters about 3.45pm.

Among their supporters who had turned up included Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru, former Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, DAP Puchong MP Gobind Singh and DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.

Statements taken as 'witnesses'

Hector said that they were beng investigated under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act, though Shanmugam added that their statements so far were taken as witnesses and they have not been told that they are suspects in the investigations.

Pereira also revealed that the investigation was called following a police report lodged against the motion passed by the Bar at its AGM.

"As a lawyer and member of the Bar, we have a right and also a duty to uphold the course of justice and bring about reforms to the course of justice.

"It's not just the obligation of lawyers but of each Malaysian to improve things. If something is wrong, we have an obligation to highlight the wrong and put forth a suggestion on how to change it for the better," Hector told reporters after emerging from the police headquarters.

Pereira and Ambiga also stressed that the motion was discussed and passed at a closed-door meeting.

Calling the investigation "unnecessary and uncalled for", Pereira said the Bar is not intimidated by it and will carry on.

Ambiga said investigating a motion brought up at the Bar Council's closed-door meeting showed that these people do not respect the statutory rights of lawyers.

"They think they can barge into our territory and tell us what to do.

"By the way, to try and tell people they cannot move a motion in their own meeting, which was closed-door, is a dangerous precedent," Ambiga said.

The more the authorities try to shut the people up, she added, the more it appeared like they have something to hide.

Bar vice-president George Varughese said he believes that after the questioning, the police would agree that no offence has been committed.

"To question our right to move a motion wouldn't be right. Like I said before, it's a right provided for.

"They exercised their right. It shouldn't be questioned unless it was being abused, but I see no abuses here," Varughese said.