The Bar Council notes with alarm the report in today’s New Straits Times
that the Prime Minister has instructed a police report to be lodged against DAP
chairman Karpal Singh.
This move, following the recent charges of sedition against Raja Petra and Syed
Akbar Ali, signals a disturbing trend towards the use of archaic and oppressive
legislation such as the Sedition Act as a means of stifling debate and exchange
of opinions.
Many issues of public and constitutional law including state law and convention
that have hitherto not arisen, have understandably surfaced since the March 8
general elections.
One recent controversy was over the appointment of the Trengganu Menteri Besar,
when many members of the Government and public took strong positions in relation
to the actions of the state’s Regent and its Regency Advisory Council, including
the position that the appointment of the Chief Minister was unconstitutional.
Strong views were similarly expressed in respect of the appointment of the
Perlis Menteri Besar. Likewise the views expressed by Karpal Singh are his
opinion on the legal issues relating to the transfer of the Perak Religious
Department director Datuk Jamry Sury. Using the Sedition Act against him is a
stifling of healthy debate that has in fact already been taking place over the
last few months in other instances.
We would in the circumstances urge that the oppressive Sedition Act not be used
against Karpal Singh or anyone else exercising their constitutional right of
freedom of speech.
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.
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Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
