Lawyers questioned under Sedition Act to keep on talking
Former Bar Council President S Ambiga says unprecedented move to call in lawyers over AGM motion has set a dangerous precedent.
KUALA LUMPUR: The three lawyers summoned by police over their motion
to seek the Attorney-General’s resignation are determined not to stop
talking even after being investigated under the Sedition Act.
Charles Hector, one of the trio, said the three of them were
questioned for about one hour under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Sedition
Act about what had transpired at the Malaysian Bar Annual General
Meeting on March 19.
This came after a police report was lodged against them.
“We are still committed in upholding the cause of justice.
“Ultimately, our position is that as lawyers and members of the
Malaysian Bar, we have the right to uphold justice in Malaysia. We have
the right to seek change so that our country can become better.
“This is not just the obligations of lawyers, but the duty of each
and everyone in Malaysia,” he told reporters in front of Bukit Aman
police headquarters here today.
Charles, along with R. Shanmugam and Francis Pereira, submitted a
motion calling for the resignation of Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi
Ali, which were passed by the Malaysian Bar during its AGM.
The three entered the police headquarters at 2.40 pm and came out at 3.50 pm.
Some 40 lawyers and activists were present to give support for the three legal practitioners.
They included Malaysian Bar President Steven Thiru, former President S
Ambiga, Bersih Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah, DAP Puchong MP Gobind
Singh Deo and DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.
Earlier today, Malaysian Bar Secretary Karen Cheah was questioned under the same act at the Malaysian Bar headquarters at 11 am.
She said the four of them were informed of the matter by Bukit Aman last week.
Meanwhile, Ambiga said the unprecedented move to call lawyers over
the motion passed at the AGM was “a dangerous precedent” and showed that
the government had something to hide.
“What is of great concern is there are no boundaries and they
(government) don’t respect the rights of lawyers. They think they can
barge into our territory and tell us what to do,” she said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Bar Vice-President George Varughese said police
should agree after the investigation that no offence was committed.
“To question our right to move a motion definitely wouldn’t be right.
“They are merely exercising their statutory right. They should not be
questioned unless there is abuse, but I don’t see any abuse here.” FMT News, 31/3/2016
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