The Bar Council commends SUHAKAM for its efforts to promote and protect human rights in Malaysia in general and for organising the First Malaysian Human Rights Day in particular. The addition of a Human Rights Day to the Malaysian calendar of events is itself a valuable contribution to the future of the country and its citizens as it will constitute a constant reminder to the public for years to come of the importance of human rights in our nation.
SUHAKAM has received many adverse comments in the wake of the publication of its findings on the Kesas Highway incident. Its chairman, Tan Sri Musa Hitam was reported by The Star on 10 September 2001 as saying that criticisms against the commission had made it a household name and helped increase the awareness of human rights. Perhaps one of the most important contributions by SUHAKAM since its beginnings has been its role in increasing public awareness of human rights. Being a human rights commission, its importance lies not only in its existence and function, but in the extent to which its existence and function are known and positively acknowledged by the public at large. The Bar Council hopes that SUHAKAM's annual report which has been submitted to Parliament will be accorded the due respect and consideration that SUHAKAM legally and morally deserves.
In this connection, the Deputy Prime Minister has been encouraging in his call to the public on Human Rights Day to support SUHAKAM's efforts and to view the issue of basic human rights in its proper perspective. The Bar Council urges the Government to itself lead public response in the right direction and seriously acknowledge the findings of the report as findings which SUHAKAM is not only entitled, but mandated, to make. That SUHAKAM was established for this very purpose calls for proper respect to be accorded to its work. This is especially so in view of the fact that an open inquiry was held to which the press and public had access. The Bar Council is of the view that only once the report has been fully investigated should a value judgment be attached to its findings by the investigating parties concerned. That the report has already been described as biased, unrealistic and influenced by Western thinking is premature and unreasonable.
The Bar Council also urges the Government to adopt an objective and pro-active stand in its current investigation of the findings of the report as far as is possible.
On a separate but connected issue, the Bar Council views with disappointment the Deputy Prime Minister's stand that the Internal Security Act is still necessary. The Bar Council reiterates that there are at present other and ample statutory provisions available to the authorities to investigate and prosecute offences, while at the same time maintaining the constitutional right of citizens to a fair trial and access to legal representation immediately upon arrest.
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.
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 110/2012: Seminar on Introduction to ICC Arbitration: An Insight into the 2012 ICC Rules
