Stop questioning police's authority, Bar Council told

A group of 30 NGO members demonstrated in front of the Bar Council building in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, urging the legal body to stop questioning the authority of the police force.

The group also requested the Bar Council to condemn attacks on police, such as the Sept 26 incident in Jalan Kuchai Lama.

Muhammad Zahid Mat Arip, the spiritual leader of Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim (Tibai), urged the council to do this as seriously as they had in condemning alleged incidents of police wrongdoings.

"We urge them to issue a statement condemning the gunning down of two police officers in the incident. 

"After today's historic event, people will assess the Bar Council. If there is no statement from them, they will be seen as opposition-controlled figures," said the former PKR Youth deputy chief.

Two-page memo

Last Wednesday, corporals Nor Azlan Abu Bakar, 42, and R Subramaniam, 52, were shot when they chased a car with three occupants.

Nor Azlan suffered a gunshot wound in the neck, while Subramaniam was hit in the abdomen and hand.

Three days later, one of the suspected men was shot dead following a high-speed car chase at Taman Danau Desa.

Another leader of the demonstration yesterday, Gabungan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps) chairperson Hamidzun Khairuddin, read out a two-page-long memorandum, before handing it over to a Bar Council representative.

He said the Bar Council was always finding fault and questioning the actions of the police, while the force was working hard to safeguard peace and security of the people. 

"The Bar Council should be neutral on issues, without compromising public order, national harmony, social justice and economic prosperity," he said.

Other organisations involved in the demonstration included Malay rights pressure group Perkasa and Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), all known to be pro-government.