LawEddie.com

I was really shocked to see what happened in the State Assembly Hall 2 days ago and more so seeing how they arrested the 5 young Malaysian lawyers who were sent by the Legal Aid Center to render assistance to their clients.

Sometimes words are limited to describe what one see and feels, as such, I decided to select the relevant videos pertaining to this whole fiasco and display them below in the chronologically manner.

Videos always tell a better story and move one better.

1BLACKMalaysia launched

[Wong Chin Huat, a social activist called Malaysian to wear in black on 7 May to show the dissenting voice to the government about the political crisis in Perak.]

Bersih Spokesperson Wong Chin Huat arrested 1

[Such a call has caused him to be arrested under Sedition Act, who was accused to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government.

However, Malaysian Bar Council condemn such arrest and the newly elected president of Bar Council, Ragunan and the former president, Dato' Ambiga and many other lawyers went to the police station to render their assistance to Wong Chin Huat.]

Bersih Spokesperson Wong Chin Huat arrested 2

Bersih Spokesperson Wong Chin Huat arrested 3

Arrests galore at SUK

[On 7 May 2009, police arrested those who wear black and gathering around the Perak State Assembly Hall. This is the most massive arrest that I ever seen in Malaysia against civilians.]

The Great DUN Perak fiasco

[On the same day, the council meeting inside the Perak State Assembly Hall was in a mess. Fighting, shouting, strangling, humiliating...etc. I felt so sad and speechless towards the situation.]

Vigil: Another 20 arrested, including 5 lawyers

[On the same day at night, 5 lawyers was arrested when they tried to render legal assistance to the detainees who were holding a peaceful candle vigil for Wong Chin Huat.]

200 lawyers protest against arrests

[On 8 May 2009, about 150 lawyers gathered at Duta Court Complex to show support to the 5 arrested lawyers and listerning to the speech of the Malaysian Bar Council's president. The speech was intervened by the police.]

VoxPop: Perak assembly fracas

[Peoples were commenting the whole fiasco]

Bersih’s Wong released

[On the same day, Wong Chin Huat and the 5 lawyers were released.]

Bar Council has called for an EGM of Malaysian Bar and the Motion of the meeting are listed below:

Date: 15 May 2009
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: Dewan Sivik
Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya
Jalan Yong Shook Lin
46675 Petaling Jaya
Selangor

——————————————————————————–

ADDENDUM

Further to the Agenda dated 8 May 2009, the Bar Council has, on 8 May 2009 received the following motion submitted for discussion under the heading “Motions”:-

ITEM 1 OF THE AGENDA

Motion dated 8 May 2009 proposed by Ragunath Kesavan in respect of the arrest and detention of five (5) lawyers on 7 May 2009.
[Appendix A]

In accordance with Section 65(4A) of the LPA 1976, the quorum shall be 500 members of the Malaysian Bar. We look forward to your presence at the Extraordinary General Meeting.

Thank you.

George Varughese
Secretary
Malaysian Bar

Encl.

——————————————————————————–

[Appendix A]

Motion

Whereas on the night of 7 May 2009, five members of the Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Centre, Fadiah Nadwa binti Fikri (Secretary), Murnie Hidayah binti Anuar, Puspawati binti Rosman, Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal (Chairperson) and Syuhaini binti Safwan (collectively known as the “LAC Lawyers”), in their capacity as Advocates & Solicitors, had requested the police at the Brickfields Police Station for access to the detained persons who were arrested that same night whilst holding a candlelight vigil at the same Police Station over the recent arrest of political scientist Wong Chin Huat.

Whereas Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution entrenches the fundamental right of a person to consult and be defended by the legal practitioner of his/her choice. Further, sub-sections 28A(2) to (7) of the Criminal Procedure Code (“CPC”) set out in detail the rights of arrested persons including their right to communicate and consult with a legal practitioner of their choice.

Whereas the Police denied the LAC Lawyers access to the detained persons, the Police, without any reasonable grounds, proceeded to arrest the LAC Lawyers and only released them on police bail the following day at around 3 p.m., notwithstanding the repeated requests by other lawyers for their immediate release.

NOW IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THE MALAYSIAN BAR:

1. Strongly condemns and denounces the wrongful arrest, detention and interrogation of the LAC Lawyers.

2. Strongly condemns and denounces the blatant transgression of the rule of law and the constitutional right of every person to counsel and access to justice.

3. Strongly condemns the unnecessary arrest and detention of those exercising their constitutional right to assemble peaceably.

4. Strongly condemns the arbitrary, improper and frequent resort by the police to section 28A(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code, thus denying an arrested person access to counsel and making the right provided under section 28A(3) meaningless.

5. Strongly condemns and denounces the appalling treatment of the LAC lawyers and all those held in custody, including compelling them to wear lock up uniforms and unnecessarily handcuffing them.

6. Strongly condemns and denounces the Police for deliberately refusing to disclose to their family or their lawyers any information in relation to the LAC lawyers after their arrest, including their location and their next course of action.

7. Calls upon the Inspector-General of Police to take immediate disciplinary action against the police officers responsible for the unlawful arrest of the LAC Lawyers and in particular, the OCPD of the Brickfields police station for this shameful incident.

8. Calls upon the Inspector-General of Police to take full responsibility for, and to explain, this gross abuse of police power.

9. Calls upon the Government to be committed to and to uphold the Rule of Law as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

10. Reiterates its previous calls on the Government to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) in its original form to serve as an independent external oversight mechanism.

11. Calls on the Government of Malaysia to uphold and defend the fundamental rights of advocates and solicitors to discharge their responsibilities to their clients in an environment free from threats and intimidation and unhindered by law enforcement agencies.

Proposed by: Ragunath Kesavan
Dated: 8 May 2009

I would urge all the members of the Malaysian Bar to attend the said EGM and show support.

This is a video of Ragunath Kesavan, President of the Malaysian bar, at the press conference after the EGM.