Malaysian Bar ready to lead protest against judicial interference
Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah said the matter was part of a resolution passed by over 600 members present at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held this afternoon in Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur.
“The Malaysian Bar shall...
The Malaysian Bar has indicated readiness to organise and lead lawyers on a peaceful protest amid allegations of judicial intimidation.
Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah (above, middle) said the matter was part of a resolution passed by over 600 members present at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held this afternoon in Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur.
“The Malaysian Bar shall take immediate and necessary steps to organise and lead a peaceful protest at a time and venue as the Bar Council deems suitable,” Cheah said at a press conference alongside other office-bearers.
“We will be carrying out some of the steps contained in this resolution, including having a walk,” she said, adding that logistical matters including deciding on a date and venue for the walk will be discussed by the Bar Council at a meeting this Sunday.
Cheah said aside from 437 members who voted for the resolution, representatives from Sabah and Sarawak present as observers were also supportive of the walk and the Malaysian Bar’s condemnation of attacks against the judiciary.
“Every walk is different,” Cheah said when asked if the peaceful protest would be modelled after a 2007 “Walk for Justice” held in Putrajaya.
At the time, some 2,000 lawyers under the leadership of the Bar Council’s then chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan marched against allegations of judicial interference.
Aside from a peaceful protest, Cheah said the resolution also comprises other possible actions to challenge the propriety and manner of the investigation commenced by MACC against Court of Appeal judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali after a politically-linked blog posted an allegation claiming he had unexplained wealth.
“The Malaysian Bar calls upon the attorney-general, being the guardian of public interest, to take all necessary steps to protect the institution of the judiciary and sacrosanct principle of independence of the judiciary from such intimidation and interference,” according to the resolution.
The resolution on upholding and protecting the independence of the judiciary and the preservation of public confidence in the judiciary was the only one passed today.
Cheah said six other resolutions tabled by individual members were defeated and they were free to raise it again at another meeting.
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