I am not sure how much 'ball licking' and 'ball polishing' the Malaysian Bar Council had done to persuade the intervention of its ally ABA (American Bar Association) in our legal system.
They (Bar Council), I believe must has had some corresponding with the ABA to apply pressure on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Home Minister Zahid Hamidi in getting the Sedition Act 1948 repealed.
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Nah! They can't deny such browsing. Just like our National Union of Journalists (NUJ) which is affiliated with other bodies worldwide, its natural that the Bar Council, some NGOs and associations to have tie-ups with their reciprocating organisations abroad.
But for the ABA to interfere in our judiciary and law, is a shame. Why? Look at the US oppressive law first.
The ABA, being a well-recognised body, should first take a look at the US double standard in attending to international issues.
When was the last time ABA members pay Guantanamo prisoners a visit and fight for their cause? What had they done to protest the US military intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya for a blind assumption of the 9/11?
What is ABA's stand on the Israel-Palestine issue, the Rohingya plight in Myanmar, the racial sentiment in some of US regions and US bullying of Venezuela, Yemen and other countries? And what rights are they referring to when Washington's foreign policy always support the oppositions in developing countries like Malaysia?
Hubbard had issued a statement on Sept 19, 2014 in support of a rally by the Bar Council to protest the Sedition Act.
Had he and his ABA ever written to Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu to stop massacre of the Palestinians, or pressing the US president to stop interfering in the Middle East and other peaceful nations?
Ironically, Hubbard himself did support George Bush in attacking Iraq in 2003, believing there were weapons of mass destruction (WMD) there. Doesn't he remember?
So, what is 'rights' and 'justice' for him and his ABA?
They (Bar Council), I believe must has had some corresponding with the ABA to apply pressure on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Home Minister Zahid Hamidi in getting the Sedition Act 1948 repealed.
Nah! They can't deny such browsing. Just like our National Union of Journalists (NUJ) which is affiliated with other bodies worldwide, its natural that the Bar Council, some NGOs and associations to have tie-ups with their reciprocating organisations abroad.
But for the ABA to interfere in our judiciary and law, is a shame. Why? Look at the US oppressive law first.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, expressing concern over Malaysia's use of the Sedition Act 1948 against a lawyer and law lecturer.These people (some lawyers) can really make us puke!
The ABA also reminded Putrajaya that it was going against international law in clamping down on critical views.
ABA president William C. Hubbard said the sedition charges against human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen and law associate professor Azmi Sharom had violated their fundamental freedom, which he said Malaysia was obliged to respect.
"I wish to express the ABA's concern regarding the pending prosecutions of attorney Eric Paulsen and (associate) Professor Azmi Sharom, which are part of an apparent pattern of harassment against lawyers and rights activists in Malaysia, with at least four other lawyers charged under Article 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 since 2014," Hubbard wrote in the letter dated March 12.
He reminded Najib that international law generally prohibits restrictions on the freedom of expression, adding that sedition laws were almost universally obsolete in common law jurisdictions.
"As a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Malaysia is obliged to respect and protect fundamental freedoms, including the right to freedom of expression and opinion," said Hubbard, adding that freedom of expression was guaranteed in the Malaysian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The ABA, being a well-recognised body, should first take a look at the US double standard in attending to international issues.
When was the last time ABA members pay Guantanamo prisoners a visit and fight for their cause? What had they done to protest the US military intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya for a blind assumption of the 9/11?
What is ABA's stand on the Israel-Palestine issue, the Rohingya plight in Myanmar, the racial sentiment in some of US regions and US bullying of Venezuela, Yemen and other countries? And what rights are they referring to when Washington's foreign policy always support the oppositions in developing countries like Malaysia?
Hubbard had issued a statement on Sept 19, 2014 in support of a rally by the Bar Council to protest the Sedition Act.
Had he and his ABA ever written to Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu to stop massacre of the Palestinians, or pressing the US president to stop interfering in the Middle East and other peaceful nations?
Ironically, Hubbard himself did support George Bush in attacking Iraq in 2003, believing there were weapons of mass destruction (WMD) there. Doesn't he remember?
So, what is 'rights' and 'justice' for him and his ABA?