Don't be crybabies, IGP tells Malaysian Bar over gathering plan

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has urged the Malaysian Bar not to be childish with regard to a plan to gather outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

“Just because we want to investigate them over reports which have been lodged, they act like crybabies and threaten to gather in front of Bukit Aman. Don’t be childish.

“They should instead assist us with the investigations and show the rakyat that what they did was legal as claimed by them,” he told Malaysiakini.

Khalid also warned that action would be taken if the gathering causes disturbances or traffic obstruction.

Furthermore, he said as lawyers, they should know that ample notice must be provided as stipulated under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Khalid was responding to a circular urging lawyers to gather at the police headquarters tomorrow afternoon when four members of the Malaysian Bar, including its secretary Cheah Yee Lynn, would be questioned under the Sedition Act.

The police have summoned the four over the motion at the Malaysian Bar annual general meeting urging the resignation of attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

In the circular, Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru (photo) said it was unacceptable for the police to record statements from the lawyers.

The other lawyers called for questioning are Charles Hector Fernandez, Francis Pereira and R Shanmugam - who had moved the motion.

Previously, Thiru had criticised the police’s action as interference with the Bar Council’s statutory obligation to convene and conduct the Malaysian Bar’s annual general meeting.

He added that it is the statutory entitlement of members of the Malaysian Bar to move motions for the consideration of the Malaysian Bar, is consistent with the Malaysian Bar’s objects and powers under the Legal Profession Act 1976.

Therefore, he urged the police to respect the statutory duties of the Bar Council and the statutory rights of members of the Malaysian Bar. -Mkini