IT must be appreciated that the events unfolding in Perak are unprecedented and involve complex legal issues. It is impossible to provide a conclusive opinion on them. Some matters may, however, be addressed generally as a matter of principle. Today 27 assemblypersons in Perak were prevented by the OCPD from entering the state secretariat building, [...]

THE shocking display of vitriol against Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin of Perak by certain groups claiming to advance patriotism in Perak is a disconcerting trend. In a modern and robust democracy such as we claim to be, threats against those who hold different views, seek to enforce their legal rights, or seek to challenge [...]

THE present situation in Perak raises many legal and constitutional issues. It is the view of some constitutional lawyers that the prerogative of the Ruler is “non-justiciable” and cannot be reviewed by the courts. Thus, although we, and others, are of the view that dissolution of the state legislative assembly in Perak would have been [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Jan 2009: The Bar Council has called upon the government to immediately become party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to influence the promotion of international peace and stability. Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said today that the ICC is an independent and permanent court that seeks [...]

PETALING JAYA, 15 Dec 2008: The Judges’ Ethics Committee Bill that was tabled in Parliament for first reading today is a move in the right direction, according to the Malaysian Bar and a former judge. The bill will pave the way for the setting up of a committee to deal with judges who breach any [...]

PETALING JAYA, 24 Nov 2008: The police acted unjustly when they detained one group for illegally gathering in public but did not arrest another, said the Malaysian Bar. Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said both groups were exercising their right to freedom of assembly as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. One assembly was held to [...]