MCA Youth Supports Bar Council Forum on Social Contract
The MCA Youth Legal Bureau expresses disappointment with the statement made by
the Minister of Internal Security and Home Affairs YB Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid
Albar as reported in the News Straits Times on 30 June 2008 that action
could be taken against the Bar Council for holding a Social Contract Forum on 28
June 2008. Syed Hamid Albar is also reported to have said that the police “could
begin investigation if a report was lodged against the Bar Council for
sedition.”
MCA Youth Legal Bureau Chief Sdr Gan Ping Sieu said that the special position of
the Malays are clearly stated in the Federal Constitution. He however stressed
that, “discussing the process in drafting the Constitution including its
historical background and reasons must not be interpreted as questioning the
special position of the Malays. The public are advised to understand clearly the
content of Article 153.”
He stressed that Article 153 must be read alongside with Article 153(7) “nothing
in this Article shall operate to deprive or authorize the deprivation of any
person of any right” and Article 153(8) which reads “no such law shall … deprive
or authorize the deprivation of any right…”
Gan further added that “when any organization or body conduct forums to discuss
the Federal Constitution and are sincere in discussing the Constitution
objectively and rationally while not distorting the facts; such forums should be
accepted by everyone. “
MCA Youth Legal Bureau would like to congratulate Bar Council for successfully
organizing the Social Contract forum which was held last week and will give its
full support on the matter. “Such rational forum is informative with the
objective to explain clearly the content and all the Articles as stated in the
Federal Constitution.”
Gan shares the view that “all Malaysians are knowledgeable and mature enough to
discuss any matter related to the Constitution openly. Anyone who wants to
prevent or objects against such forums has actually gone against freedom of
speech as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.”
The MCA Youth Legal Bureau expresses disappointment against any politician or
extremist in Malaysia who uses political sensitivity as a reason to disallow
such forums or discourses from being organized, as a means to deny freedom of
speech in the 21st century.
With regard to the statements that have appeared in the newspapers criticizing
the Bar Council forum, not only does it lack the spirit of mutual tolerance, it
is also unhelpful to the country to achieve the objective of racial harmony. It
also does not respect rational discourse among the academicians and the legal
fraternity and also fails to educate the public.
Sdr Gan Ping Sieu likened the remarks and objections by certain quarters who
have equated the Bar Council forum on the Social Contract as removing Malay
supremacy indicates lack of confidence and a complete miscomprehension of
objective participation in discourse. “The failure to comprehend and discuss
rationally has resulted in another type of supremacy.”
Press Statement issued by MCA Youth Legal Bureau chief, Sdr Gan Ping Sieu in response to criticisms made against Bar Council for conducting the Social Contract Forum
2 Jul 2008 12:00 am