HomeNewsPress Statements Press Release: Detention of legal aid volunteers highlights need for increased awareness of rights
Press Release: Detention of legal aid volunteers highlights need for increased awareness of rights
Monday, 11 October 2010 04:47pm
The Malaysian Bar is at a loss to understand the basis for the police’s action in detaining four Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur) (BCLAC KL) volunteers yesterday while they were distributing pamphlets to educate the public on their rights when dealing with the police. The exercise was a public education initiative dubbed “‘Lawyers Approaching Community” (or “LAC”, which is also the acronym for the Bar Council’s Legal Aid Centres), and was geared towards publicising National Law Awareness Week, which begins nationwide today.
The police harassed the volunteers, comprising a lawyer, a lawyer-to-be and two pupils in chambers, claiming that the Bar Council pamphlet, titled “Police and Your Basic Rights”, was “illegal” and “anti-police”.
Ironically, both the pamphlet and the booklet that preceded it were launched by none other than YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and de facto Law Minister, at the Bar Council in February 2009 and April 2006, respectively. At the 2006 event, the Minister himself assisted in distributing the booklets to members of the public immediately after the launch. In 2009, in addition to expressing his support for the publication, he stated that citizens are entitled to their rights and the police must adhere to standard operating procedures.
However, the police did not comply with such procedures in yesterday’s incident. Although they stated that the BCLAC KL volunteers were not under arrest, they refused to return the volunteers’ identity cards (which they had requested) and instead compelled the volunteers to follow them to the police station, where a police report was lodged against them.
The Malaysian Bar calls on the police, and members of other law enforcement agencies, to move away from a “police state” mindset of intimidation and impunity, to the practice of respect for human rights. We also urge that more effective and holistic human rights education and practical training of law enforcement officials be conducted, with a view towards changing law enforcement attitudes and methods in relation to detention and arrest, and treatment of detained/arrested persons.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News 
The Malaysian Bar is at a loss to understand the basis for the police’s action in detaining four Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur) (BCLAC KL) volunteers yesterday while they were distributing pamphlets to educate the public on their rights when dealing with the police. The exercise was a public education initiative dubbed “‘Lawyers Approaching Community” (or “LAC”, which is also the acronym for the Bar Council’s Legal Aid Centres), and was geared towards publicising National Law Awareness Week, which begins nationwide today.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
Chee Wee,
perhaps the Bar Council can initiate action to test the manner in which the police carried out its "duties".