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KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat (DPP Pusat) wrote in to request for a friendly visit and to meet up with members of the National Young Lawyers Committee (NYLC).

Politically neutral and always obliging, regardless of DPP Pusat’s political stance, a meeting was set up by the National Young Lawyers Committee at 2.30pm on May 20 in the Bar Council with the day’s agenda having already been set out.

Nine representatives appeared for DPP Pusat and the NYLC was represented by 3 out of the 4 Deputy Chairpersons: i.e. Desmond Ho, Andrew Yeap, and Audrey Quah.

In the opening speech of Ahmad Sabki, the secretary of DPP Pusat, he remarked that they were visiting important stakeholders in society and this particular visit was one of many they intend to have. They intend to build relationships and share views and opinions on current issues, especially legal ones; and hope to gain insight on the views of other stakeholders in society.

The NYLC made it clear at the outset that as much as they welcomed the visit to discuss on relevant issues as set out in the agenda, the views presented are not the Bar Council’s views and are purely personal, and that the Bar Council’s stand on matters are available for perusal on the Malaysian Bar website.

Ahmad Sabki brought up the issue of Independent Judicial Commission and Desmond pointed out that a Memorandum on the Setting up on an Independent Judicial Commission by the Malaysian Bar dated September 26, 2007, is in existence and is available for download from the Malaysia Bar website. It is quite clear from the said Memorandum that the NYLC is in full support of the Bar Council’s push for the setting up of an Independent Judicial Commission.

Andrew clarified that the Memorandum was issued after much research had been conducted, and after comparing it with other jurisdictions. Ahmad Sabki pointed out that although they generally supported the setting up of the Commission, they were nonetheless skeptical about the mechanisms employed in the process of setting the Commission up. They were of the view that for the Commission to be truly independent, recommendations of names of judges should be made to be to the King or Parliament, and not to the Executive.

Desmond highlighted the Lingam tape fiasco and how with persistence and the will of all stakeholders of society as illustrated through the recent Walk For Justice, change is possible. Desmond voiced his personal opinion that as much as we could, we ought to acknowledge any positive steps taken by anyone towards making a change. Qualifying his statement, he went on to caution that being critical of such means ought not hamper the process of change but criticisms are part and parcel of pushing for further accountability.

Much of the friendly and intelligent conversations that took place between both sides centered upon the common desire to see better governance in this country and the upholding of basic principles of justice.

It was a pleasant sight to witness healthy conversations taking place and DPP Pusat was welcomed by Desmond to highlight and bring to our attention issues that could be discussed by both sides.

The meeting ended with Zamri expressing his hope that the Bar Council would continue to push for the Independent Judicial Commission and take into account their reservations and views.

Both sides exchanged momentoes and took a group photograph.

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