Lawyers pour scorn on ‘stupid’ Bar
A vocal few criticise the Bar Council for not being apolitical and failing to take note of the violence perpetrated by the protesters during the Bersih 3.0 rally.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Several lawyers have accused the Bar Council of supposedly siding with both Bersih and the opposition.
They argued that the Bar focused only on police brutality and failed to note the violence caused by protesters during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally.
Selangor Bar member Abdul Bakar Sidek attacked the Council, calling it a “political group” of the opposition.
“They come here [and] just want to pass a resolution. They just want to talk about police brutality but they never talk about public brutality towards the police!” he told reporters angrily.
This happened minutes after the Bar Council ended its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on the Bersih 3.0 rally, where they passed a resolution condemning heavy-handed police action on that day.
Abdul Bakar asked why the resolution omitted instances of protester violence.
“I do not agree with police brutality but at the same time we do have to adhere that the police are also victims of the public and the stupid Bersih.
“…I am ashamed to be a member of the Bar, I wish I had an alternative [to the Bar]. I came just to say, ‘Why you need to gather by the roadside like a pariah?’”
“…I wish the government can give us an alternative [to the Bar, because] a lot of my friends do not want to be a member of this stupid Bar!” he shouted.
While he was speaking to reporters, a few lawyers taunted Abdul Bakar, chanting, “Bersih 4!”
In response to this, he said: “You see? Is this a forum of professionals? They want a Bersih 4.0, [but] they are just a bunch of idiots!”
Abdul Bakar later claimed that he had a younger sister, who in her capacity as a policewoman, was attacked by protesters that day.
He also blamed Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga of shoring up publicity in a bid to “create havoc.”
Of the 1,270 Bar members who attended today’s EGM, 939 voted in favour of today’s resolution, while 16 voted against.
The rest either left the venue before the event ended or did not take part in the vote.
