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Straits Times (Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council came out in strong support over the resignation of
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
Its president, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, commended the
principled stand taken by Zaid over the recent detentions under the Internal
Security Act.
"It is entirely appropriate that he distances and disassociates himself from
these acts. In short, it is the right thing to do.
"It sets an example of what responsible politicians should do in the interests
of the rakyat where such fundamental issues and principles are involved."
Ambiga said the council's only regret was that the process of judicial and legal
reforms, which Zaid was putting in place, would now face a serious setback.
"We knew this process was facing resistance from many
quarters but we had hoped that it would eventually bear fruit. We regret that it
may now be stalled indefinitely."
Ragunath Kesavan, the Bar Council vice–president and a member of the committee
for the backlog of cases, said the legal fraternity had lost a strong supporter
within the cabinet.
"Zaid had spearheaded a huge paradigm shift in terms of solving backlog cases,
postponements and delays."