KUALA LUMPUR 12 Julai – Majlis Peguam Malaysia (MPM) mendakwa akhbar Utusan
Malaysia melancarkan perang terhadapnya melalui liputan dan laporan mengenai
forum kontrak sosial yang dianjurkannya, baru-baru ini.
Pengerusinya, Ambiga Sreevinasan turut mempertikaikan tindakan Utusan
Malaysia yang membangkitkan soal keanggotaan peguam Melayu dalam Majlis
Peguam dan isu ketuanan Melayu.
‘‘Utusan Malaysia melancarkan perang ke atas Majlis Peguam melalui semua
laporannya mengenai forum kontrak sosial,’’ katanya.
Ambiga berkata demikian ketika mempengerusikan forum bertajuk Perlembagaan
Malaysia: Demokrasi dan Kenegaraan anjuran Majlis Kebangsaan
Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Wanita Malaysia (NCWO) di Fakulti Undang-Undang,
Universiti Malaya (UM), di sini hari ini.
Sebelum ini, banyak pihak menyelar tindakan Majlis Peguam yang membincangkan
kontrak sosial kerana ia seolah-olah memperlekehkan orang Melayu.
Pada masa yang sama, beliau mahu kerajaan menghapuskan Akta Hasutan kerana ia
mengekang masyarakat daripada membincang atau mendebatkan isu-isu tertentu di
negara ini.
‘‘Akta Hasutan tidak harus dilaksanakan kerana ia dianggap satu undang-undang
yang bodoh. England juga sudah lama tidak menggunakan akta tersebut,’’ kata
Ambiga.
Forum yang diadakan pada hari ini disertai oleh peguam veteran, Datuk Dominic
Puthucheary; Pensyarah Undang-Undang UM, Profesor Madya Dr. Azmi Sharom dan
peguam, Lim Heng Seng.
Sementara itu, Heng Seng ketika menyentuh mengenai media dalam ucapannya berkata,
sejak pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu, kebanyakan media arus perdana sudah mula
bersikap terbuka dan memberikan liputan kepada parti-parti pembangkang.
‘‘Bagaimanapun, akhbar berbahasa Melayu masih dilihat menghasut walaupun sudah
mula ‘vokal’ (bersuara).
‘‘Akhbar berbahasa Melayu ‘vokal’ dalam cara yang salah,’’ dakwanya.
Dominic ketika mengulas mengenai isu media berkata, kawalan ke atas lesen
suratkhabar dan pengaruh parti politik ke atas media adalah bercanggah dengan
Artikel 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
‘‘Artikel 10 dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan merujuk kepada kebebasan bersuara.
Oleh itu, kepercayaan dan keyakinan rakyat harus bebas daripada sebarang kawalan
kerajaan atau parti politik.
‘‘Maka pengaruh-pengaruh tertentu dalam syarikat media perlu dihapuskan,’’
katanya.
Azmi ketika mengulas mengenai media berkata, beliau tidak kisah dengan apa yang
dilaporkan dalam akhbar Utusan Malaysia.
‘‘Sekurang-kurangnya, kita tahu apa yang (Utusan Malaysia) fikirkan.
Sesiapa juga yang mempunyai lesen penerbitan, bebas menerbitkan apa sahaja
sesuka hati.
“Oleh itu, cakaplah apa yang anda mahu dalam akhbar anda sendiri,’’ jelasnya.
SOCIAL CONTRACT A 'DYNAMIC' DOCUMENT written by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng,
Sunday, July 13 2008 04:47 pm
The Malaysian Bar appears to be under siege.
The Umno-owned Utusan Melayu seems to be campaigning against the Bar's plans to have a forum for the Social Contract. Why? In this age of transparency, such a negative campaign is untenable because it stands for opacity - the complete opposite.
Malaysians must reject in toto the underlying proposition that the Social Contract should be confined to the ruling politicians.
This nation-founding document affects all of us in Malaysia and our future generations. Like all dynamic documents serving living human beings, it must never be static but must be allowed to evolve.
I am confident that after 50 years of Merdeka, my fellow Malaysians are mature enough to handle such discussions in a matured way.
Threats of "anything untoward" have been made, with the responsibility for it being laid on the doorstep of the Prime Minister. This is most unfortunate, coming as it does from a former prime minister.
Maybe, lawyers must again walk. If that is so, I will go, provided my doctors give me that elusive green light.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng
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2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
The Case of the Missing Penang Lawyer: Charity Treasure Hunt 2012 (12 Feb 2012) Organised by the Penang Bar Committee Social Subcommittee in aid of the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), this event will take place at Straits Quay, Penang, on 12 Feb 2012 (Sunday). Deadline for registration is 6 Feb 2012 (Monday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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Circular No 019/2012: Change of Address for Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Wilayah Persekutuan
The Malaysian Bar appears to be under siege.
The Umno-owned Utusan Melayu seems to be campaigning against the Bar's plans to have a forum for the Social Contract. Why? In this age of transparency, such a negative campaign is untenable because it stands for opacity - the complete opposite.
Malaysians must reject in toto the underlying proposition that the Social Contract should be confined to the ruling politicians.
This nation-founding document affects all of us in Malaysia and our future generations. Like all dynamic documents serving living human beings, it must never be static but must be allowed to evolve.
I am confident that after 50 years of Merdeka, my fellow Malaysians are mature enough to handle such discussions in a matured way.
Threats of "anything untoward" have been made, with the responsibility for it being laid on the doorstep of the Prime Minister. This is most unfortunate, coming as it does from a former prime minister.
Maybe, lawyers must again walk. If that is so, I will go, provided my doctors give me that elusive green light.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng