The Malaysian Bar - Lawyers, activists hope changes are made fast

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Lawyers, activists hope changes are made fast

Saturday, 17 September 2011 09:22am

©The Star (Used by permission)

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers and human rights activists who welcomed the sweeping reviews to the country’s security-related laws hope that the changes will be implemented as soon as possible.

They foresee a brighter future for the country, saying that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s announcement was far-reaching and extensive.

The Bar Council applauded Najib’s efforts and welcomed promises of repealing and reviewing “regressive, oppressive and outdated pieces of legislation.”

Its president Lim Chee Wee said this was the first major step towards restoring the rule of law and respect for the Federal Constitution.

“This is a correct reaction by the PM to the voice of the rakyat. We eagerly await more details of these promises,” he said.

Edmund Bon, the representative of the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, said the centre was very encouraged and elated by Najib’s speech in repealing the Internal Security Act (ISA) and emergency proclamations.

“It has been long overdue and we hope these reforms are done immediately.

“The Government can call for an emergency Parliament sitting just for this,” he said.

Bon also hoped that those who were detained and campaigned against the law would be remembered.

“It is a victory for them,” he added. “Malaysians are rational people and entitled to more freedom than they have,” he said.

Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun welcomed Najib’s decision to abolish the ISA, Banishment Act and the three emergency proclamations.

He said Najib should be congratulated as he did something his predecessors did not.

“I have always been against these laws as the conditions under which they were formulated are no longer around,” he said.

Sipaun said if a person commits an offence, it is vital that he is given an opportunity to defend himself in a court of law.

He added that laws like the ISA which gives powers to the police to arrest without a trial, went against the principle and spirit of human rights.

Proham honorary secretary Datuk Michael Yeoh said the measures, including steps to allow freedom of assembly, would create more democratic space for Malaysians.

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