I refer to the Malaysian Bar
upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 11 May,
2012.
The EGM will discuss 12
motions proposed by the Bar Council in relation to the street demostration of
Bersih 3.0, including:-
1. The Malaysian Bar calls
on the Government to pay just and proper compensation to members of the public,
media professionals and lawyers who were assaulted; and
2. The Bar
Council will look into how it can assist those denied their constitutional
rights and those who were assaulted to pursue claims against the relevant
parties for just and proper compensation.
I welcome the proposal by Malaysian
Bar to assist those that may have been assaulted during the street demonstration
of Bersih 3.0.
However, in doing so, the Malaysian Bar should also provide legal assistance
to all Malaysians affected by the street demonstration, whether they are
participants of Bersih 3.0 or otherwise.
As such, the legal assistance by the
Malaysian Bar should include assistance to pursue compensation against the
relevant parties by:-
1. local traders, business
premises, taxi drivers and others who suffered financial losses as a result of
the street demonstration by Bersih 3.0;
2. policemen who were
assaulted by the participants of Bersih 3.0;
3. those whose property,
including vehicles that were damages by the participants of Bersih 3.0;
and
4. any other person who may
be affected by the street demonstration of Bersih
3.0.
I believe that the Malaysian Bar
should uphold the principles of Justice For All and not limit its assistance to
a selected group of people.
As such, I hope that the Bar Council
would revise their motion before being tabled at the
EGM.
