#syeven

So I was listening to Far Too Young To Die when I started drawing this and now I can’t figure out how that song is still relevant to the picture lol just a mood setter I guess

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/03/23/new-bar-president-will-continue-the-fight-against-the-sedition-act/

New Bar president will continue the fight against the Sedition Act

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23, 2015:

Newly-minted Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru, who was elected to the post during their Annual General Meeting on March 14, said he would continue the fight to get the Sedition Act 1948 repealed.

He told The Rakyat Post that one of the few challenges he expected the Bar to face this term was the many rule of law challenges that confronted them.

“The continued and unabated use of the Sedition Act 1948 remains a serious concern for us.

“The stifling of free speech and constriction of democratic space is antithetical to democratic values and creates insecurities among our citizens. It retards our growth as a nation.”

He said the Malaysian Bar would continue to urge the government to consign the Sedition Act 1948 to the “dustbin of history”.

“We will then have to deal with the re-emergence of detention without trial laws in the Prevention of Crime Act 2012, and reportedly now in the Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2015 .

“These laws are unnecessary as there are sufficient provisions in the Penal Code to deal with the offences in the usual manner.”

He said the laws for detention without trial also sought to exclude judicial scrutiny by the courts.

“Thus, it allows for administrative detention orders that oust the jurisdiction and power of the courts. These are blatant violations of human rights principles and norms.

“The Malaysian Bar will continue to strongly advocate for the removal of all forms of detention-without-trial laws.”

Commenting on claims that the Bar was more “pro-opposition”, he said the Bar was neither pro-opposition nor pro-government.

“The objects and power of the Malaysian Bar are set out in Section 42 of the Legal Profession Act 1976, which includes: ‘to uphold the cause of justice without regard to its own interest or that of its members, uninfluenced by fear or favour (s.42(1)(a) ) and to protect and assist the public in all matters touching ancillary or incidental to the law (s.42(1)(g) )’.”

Steven said these provisions conferred wide powers on the Bar to uphold the primacy of fundamental rights guaranteed in the Federal Constitution.

He said it included advocating for the protection of these rights, such as the freedom of speech and assembly in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

“We are, and have been, an independent Bar throughout our 68 years of existence.

“We have always sought to advance the rights of all Malaysians without fear or favour.

“Our stand on all legal matters are strictly issues-and-rights sensitive, and are founded on the rule of law and justice. We are neither pro-opposition nor pro-government.”

He said the Malaysian Bar would not abdicate its statutory duties and functions, or be silenced.

“We will not give in because certain segments of our society seek to misconstrue our role and the positions we have taken on matters of public interest.

“I wish to recall what our former Prime Minister, the late Tun Hussein Onn, said in 1987: ‘The Bar has a duty to speak up on matters of public affecting citizens’ rights and comment on legislation affecting such rights. In doing so, the Bar must be constructive and must conduct itself with decorum. The government must appreciate the role of the Bar and be respectful of its comments, even when it differs with the profession’s views’.”

As the new president, Steven wants to continue with the good work of his predecessors.

“One of our main priorities will be to strengthen and enhance our level of engagement with the various stakeholders in the administration of justice.

“We want to continue having a good working relationship with the judiciary.”

He said the Chief Justice, President of Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Malaya and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak had all been open to engagement with the Bar on various matters of mutual concern involving the courts.

“Likewise, we want to continue reaching out to other stakeholders in the non-litigation areas.

“We hope to ease the burden of practitioners at the Bar by responding and addressing their concerns and difficulties in a timely and effective manner.”

Steven, who is a senior litigation partner of Messrs Shook Lin & Bok, has been in practice for 22 years, mainly in areas such as Administrative Law, Employment Law, Native Title Law and civil litigation.

He was first elected to the Bar Council in 2006 and had served in various committees of the Council, including as;

(1) Chairman of the Bar Council’s Industrial Law Practice Committee

(2) Chairman of the Bar Council’s Professional Standards and Development Committee

(3) Chairman of the Bar Council’s Ad-Hoc Committee on the Common Bar Course (CBC)

(4) Chairman of the Bar Council’s Finance Committee

(5) Co- Chairperson of the Bar Council’s Committee on Orang Asli Rights.