The statement made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan of wanting law firms that support Bersih to be blacklisted by government-linked companies is nothing short of political blackmail and aimed at intimidating lawyers, says Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru.

Expressing outrage, Thiru said such actions should never be accepted, let alone tolerated.

“Such strong-arm tactics have no place whatsoever in the civilised discourse of a robust democracy that respects the rule of law.