©New
Sunday Times (Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar yesterday called for the repealing of the
Internal Security Act and the release of all detained under the legislation.
It also urged the rescinding of the Emergency (Public Order
and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 and Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive
Measures) Act 1985.
These laws, among others, allow for the detention of persons without trial.
The resolutions were passed at a 75–minute extraordinary general meeting
attended by 739 of its 12,000 members.
Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the resolutions would be
submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tomorrow.
She said members also condemned the arrest of Malaysia
Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon
Cheng and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok on Sept 12.
Ambiga said members also called for the immediate release of Raja Petra and
others, including Hindraf activists M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, R. Kengadharan,
V. Ganabatirau and K. Vasantha Kumar.
"Our society must speak up and keep the pressure on. I think it is time for the
public to make it clear how irrelevant the ISA is," she said.