#DalamBerita: CLJ condemns Bar Council chairman's statement on Siti Kasim case

-

KUALA LUMPUR: Any lawyer or member of the Bar Council must not obstruct enforcement officers from carrying out their duties as provided by the law, and such an act should not be condoned, the Concerned Lawyers for Justice (CLJ) said today.

They were commenting on the case of Bar Council member Siti Zabedah Kasim, better known as Siti Kasim, who allegedly obstructed a Federal Territories Religious Department (Jawi) officer from carrying out her duties during a raid on an event here last year.

In a statement, CLJ said they were shocked by a defensive proclamation on the matter issued on Thursday by the Bar Council’s chairman, George Varughese.

“While CLJ agrees in principle with the Bar Council that ‘the independence of an advocate and solicitor to act for a client without fear or favour is fundamental to the administration of justice, this must however not be abused to the extent of putting lawyers above the reach of the law.

“Instead, an advocate and solicitor is duty-bound, even in representing clients and carrying out duties in defence of a suspected offender, to uphold the law and dignity of the profession at all times; to conduct (themselves) with candour, courtesy and fairness; and to refrain from insulting or annoying attitudes, as laid down by the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978, as well as embodied in Principle 12 of the United Nations Basic Principle on the Role of Lawyers,” said CLJ secretary-general Fatihah Jamhari.

According to Fatihah, the fracas between Siti and the Jawi officer, which was captured on video and circulated online, has been witnessed by the public – and CLJ was shocked and concerned over the brutal intimidation and ruthless harassment thrown at Jawi officers who were merely carrying out their duties.

“While the video may not be conclusive, at the very least, we believe it provides compelling evidence showing that the charge (levelled) against Siti Kasim is indeed fair, and must be allowed to be litigated in full in a court of law.

“It is improper for the Chairman of the Bar Council to hinder or condemn due process from being carried out, especially when the person charged is currently a member of the Bar Council, for it would open the door for speculation as to whether the Bar Council is actually being biased in its stance – not to mention, it would also be against the principle of equality before the law,” it said.

CLJ further urged the Bar Council to uphold the rule of law; to reaffirm the sanctity and supremacy of the Federal Constitution; to subscribe to the principle of courtesy and morality as declared in the Rukun Negara; and to reaffirm its commitment to allow necessary enforcement functionaries to carry out their duties without intimidation and harassment.

It was reported that Siti was investigated by police for criminal intimidation and obstruction of public servants after she defended transwomen from being arrested during a dinner at a local hotel in April last year.

Jawi had raided the private fundraising event by the transgender community at the venue.

On June 23, Siti claimed trial at the magistrate's court to a charge of obstructing the Jawi officer from carrying out her public function.

*Disiarkan dalam NST. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kebebasan Bersuara Yang Tidak Sama Rata (Unpublished 5 Jun 2017)

-
Di bawah adalah satu-satunya rencana yang ditendang keluar daripada penyiaran di ruang Cakna yang diniatkan untuk 05/06/2017: Aneh bagaimana Perkara 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang memperuntukkan kebebasan bersuara dan sering kali dilaung-lolongkan oleh pihak yang kononnya membela hak asasi manusia di Malaysia, ternyata tidak pula dipakai secara sama rata. Hak dan kebebasan yang dimaktubkan hanya terpakai kepada kroni yang mereka anggap mewakili pandangan mereka sahaja. Sedangkan apabila kebebasan yang sama digunakan oleh pihak yang berada di luar lingkungan ‘elit’ mereka, maka kebebasan itu cuba untuk disekat dan dinafikan. Demikianlah yang berlaku dalam isu pandangan akademik seorang pensyarah, Dr. Kamarul Zaman Yusoff yang mengulas buku karangan seorang politikus DAP, Hannah Yeoh. Beliau telah menyampaikan pandangannya bahawa Hannah Yeoh telah secara salah dan bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan menggunakan jawatan awamnya untuk mendakyahkan fahaman mubaligh Kristi...
Read more

Menyusukan kera di hutan biarpun anak di rumah kebuluran! (Utusan Malaysia 12 Jul 2024)

-
Image
“ TAKTIK penjajahan jiwa yang terakhir yang dilakukan oleh bangsa-bangsa penjajah kepada negera-negara yang baru mencapai kemerdekannya adalah dengan membangkitkan keinginan hidup mewah. Kerana bila mana bertambah mewah hidup orang, bertambah pudarlah cita-citanya. Yang satu hendak melebihi yang lain dalam kemewahan. Kemewahan dalam membangunkan rumah-rumah, kemewahan dalam menghiasinya, kemewahan dalam memilih kenderaan, kemewahan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, ditambah lagi dengan berdirinya tempat bersenang-senang bagai cendawan tumbuh di musim hujan .” – Buya Hamka  Hairan saya dengan dasar-dasar yang dikeluarkan kerajaan mutakhir ini. Terkini kerajaan melalui Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya (MOTAC) mengumumkan kelonggaran syarat permohonan program Malaysia Rumah Kedua Ku (MM2H). Program yang diasaskan pada tahun 2002 di bawah kerajaan pimpinan Barisan Nasional telah dihentikan sementara pada tahun 2020 sebelum diteruskan dengan pindaan semula pada tahun 2021 di bawah ke...
Read more

Keadilan buat Penyewa – Tuan Rumah (Utusan Malaysia 7 Julai 2023)

-
Image
‘KEKUATAN sesebuah negara terhasil daripada keutuhan di rumah.’ – Confucius. Pada tahun 2018, dapatan kaji-selidik yang dijalankan oleh PropertyGuru Malaysia menunjukkan bahawa sentimen dominan di kalangan rakyat Malaysia memilih untuk memiliki kediaman sendiri berbanding menyewa. Namun trend pemilikan rumah dalam tahun 2022 dilihat tidak seimbang akibat kadar faedah yang dikenakan bank dilihat terlalu tinggi. Ini terserlah apabila ramai penduduk, khususnya di sekitar Lembah Klang memilih untuk terus menyewa berbanding membeli rumah sendiri. Pun begitu, terkini Laporan Pasaran Hartanah PropertyGuru Malaysia untuk suku tahun 2023 menunjukkan penurunan dalam Indeks Permintaan Jualan dan Indeks Permintaan Sewa. Kebimbangan utama apabila trend menunjukkan kerenjatan dalam kedua-dua pembelian dan sewaan kediaman ialah lambakan hartanah kosong di pasaran tanpa penghuni.  Meskipun isu ini telah dikenalpasti sejak tahun 2019 lagi apabila Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan ketika itu m...
Read more