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On Saturday, as many as 10,000 Buddhist monks marched through the streets of Mandalay. On the same day, 1,000 of them walked towards the house in which Aung San Suu Kyi is being detained against her will. They stopped outside and offered a Buddhist prayer. The normal crackdown and brutal treatment did not occur. The police even removed the roadblock leading to her house for the monks to march through.

On Sunday, they marched again in Yangon. This time, they were joined by nuns clad in pale pink robes. And by 10,000 supporters. There were 20,000 of them in total.

Observers say the junta is at a loss as to how to react. The Buddhist monks are said to be orderly, disciplined and peaceful. They are said to wield great moral authority in the eyes of the people of Myanmar.

Under no circumstances would I ever lay claim to even remotely possessing any attributes comparable to that of a Buddhist monk. But in a secular state with the rule of law at its very foundation and in matters relating to the administration of justice in Malaysia, who wields great moral authority in the eyes of the people ? Who else can be counted upon to conduct themselves in a orderly, disciplined and peaceful manner ? And is our cause any less serious ?

An Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya does have a duty as an officer of the Court.

This extends to protecting the credibility and integrity of the system and to move decisively and swiftly against any threat that may undermine it.

The public expects nothing less. Or else we will be perceived as either being weak or complicit. I cannot yet conclude which is worse.

I will be joining the march on Wednesday. I not only support the decision of the Bar Council but I also applaud their conviction and strength of character. I applaud the unity they have displayed and the decisiveness of their decision.

Initially, I had my doubts. I have yet to personally pass judgment on any of the parties alleged to be involved in this incident. I cringed at the sight of certain quarters chanting “Pecat Ketua Hakim”. But the march on Wednesday does not contain any element of pre-judgment. It does not condemn anyone. The Bar Council wishes to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister calling for the establishment of a royal commission to investigate the incident. In an orderly, disciplined and peaceful manner.

What the Bar Council requires now is our full support. Not the type of half-hearted support to ensure a quorum is achieved for a meeting. But the type of support that will clearly show to the relevant parties and to the outside world that the Malaysian Bar views this incident very seriously. It is not a question of ensuring a respectable number of people make their way to Putrajaya. It is a question of ensuring that you will be there and that you will convince your fellow lawyers to cast off their apathy and general disinterestedness and do the same.

Contrary to what some of you may believe, it is in fact a fairly long walk. It is the fasting month. It will probably be scorching. As this is Malaysia, we are also equally likely to be drenched to the bone. There are probably meetings already scheduled. There’s bound to be heaps of work mid-week. But let’s not kid ourselves into believing that these matters are even remotely comparable to what is required of you on Wednesday.

In closing, I would like to comment on a view that has been expressed – that if the video clip is found not to be true, action should be taken against those who released the video as well as those who have lodged reports with the ACA.

I would like to think he was misquoted. I would like to think that he meant action would be taken against those who manufactured the video clip (if it is found not to be authentic). There is a difference.

The value of the information provider is crucial and undeniable. The Prime Minister himself acknowledged this :-

“Every citizen must be the eyes and ears of the government in detecting and exposing corruption. Let those who partake in graft feel unsafe and insecure knowing that they are being watched. In this regard the government will ensure that there are easy and convenient channels provided to the public to report cases of corruption, and that protection be given to those who come forward to report cases” (excerpt from a speech on 3 December 2003 at the 4th Regional Anti-Corruption Conference for Asia and the Pacific).

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