ID :
27519
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 17:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/27519
The shortlink copeid
BAR COUNCIL SUPPORTS PM'S REFORM EFFORTS
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The Bar Council Wednesday gave its full support to Abdullah Badawi to institute reforms in the judiciary and other areas before he stepped down as the Prime Minister.
Bar Council president S. Ambiga said such a response by the government
could
only strengthen the rule of law and prepare the legal community for the
challenges that lie ahead.
"We welcome, Prime Minister, your commitment to the important judicial and
other reforms that you had announced earlier. We fully support your
determination to see these reforms through in the shortest possible time," she
said in her welcoming speech at the 21st LawAsia Conference at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre here.
Ambiga said one area which required immediate reform in Malaysia was in
relation to laws that provided for detention without trial.
She said other countries too had such laws and in a world gripped by fear
of terrorism, these laws had even been introduced in the most vibrant of
democracies although they received serious criticism.
"But here is the difference today. More and more people demand the
abolition of such laws because they offend their sense of justice and fair play.
"We agree terrorism should be countered but there must be safeguards that
protect basic human rights," Ambiga said.
She said in Malaysia, the Internal Security Act (ISA) was meant to deal
with situations which caused a substanstial number of citizens to fear
organised violence against persons and property or those who were intent on
procuring the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of the lawful
government of Malaysia.
Ambiga said the Bar questioned the wisdom of continuing to have such a
legislation on the statute books.
"Prime Minister, while it may still be in your means to do so, and as a
historic legacy to this nation that both you and I love, I ask you, on behalf of
all right-thinking Malaysians and on behalf of the legal fraternity of Malaysia,
to move to abolish the ISA," she said.
Abdullah, in responding to Ambiga's call, said there was still a need for
ISA in this country.
The prime minister also said the new chief justice Zaki Azmi had informed
him that the judiciary needed more judges, more lawyers, and more courts to
handle the backlog cases.
He said Zaki had obviously forgotten that he was no longer holding the
Finance Minister portfolio.
However, Abdullah said he had informed his deputy Najib Razak about it.
"You will get your money," he said, while smiling to Zaki, who also
attended the conference.
Bar Council president S. Ambiga said such a response by the government
could
only strengthen the rule of law and prepare the legal community for the
challenges that lie ahead.
"We welcome, Prime Minister, your commitment to the important judicial and
other reforms that you had announced earlier. We fully support your
determination to see these reforms through in the shortest possible time," she
said in her welcoming speech at the 21st LawAsia Conference at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre here.
Ambiga said one area which required immediate reform in Malaysia was in
relation to laws that provided for detention without trial.
She said other countries too had such laws and in a world gripped by fear
of terrorism, these laws had even been introduced in the most vibrant of
democracies although they received serious criticism.
"But here is the difference today. More and more people demand the
abolition of such laws because they offend their sense of justice and fair play.
"We agree terrorism should be countered but there must be safeguards that
protect basic human rights," Ambiga said.
She said in Malaysia, the Internal Security Act (ISA) was meant to deal
with situations which caused a substanstial number of citizens to fear
organised violence against persons and property or those who were intent on
procuring the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of the lawful
government of Malaysia.
Ambiga said the Bar questioned the wisdom of continuing to have such a
legislation on the statute books.
"Prime Minister, while it may still be in your means to do so, and as a
historic legacy to this nation that both you and I love, I ask you, on behalf of
all right-thinking Malaysians and on behalf of the legal fraternity of Malaysia,
to move to abolish the ISA," she said.
Abdullah, in responding to Ambiga's call, said there was still a need for
ISA in this country.
The prime minister also said the new chief justice Zaki Azmi had informed
him that the judiciary needed more judges, more lawyers, and more courts to
handle the backlog cases.
He said Zaki had obviously forgotten that he was no longer holding the
Finance Minister portfolio.
However, Abdullah said he had informed his deputy Najib Razak about it.
"You will get your money," he said, while smiling to Zaki, who also
attended the conference.
