The New Straits Times
By Lee Shi-Ianshiianlee@nst.com.my
By Lee Shi-Ianshiianlee@nst.com.my
SEPANG: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan yesterday told the Bar Council to do some soul-searching before questioning the arrest of the five lawyers on May 7.
"First we should ask these questions, are lawyers above the law? Are they immune from actions if they commit an offence?"
"First we should ask these questions, are lawyers above the law? Are they immune from actions if they commit an offence?"
"If they commit an offence, can it be said that they were trying to carry out their professional duties and responsibilities? These questions should be answered first," Musa told reporters here at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
"If the Bar Council wants to be a pressure group, then they might as well become a non-governmental organisation. Lawyers are supposed to be professionals," he said.
"I will not allow Malaysia to become another Thailand. No organisation or body or person will be allowed to threaten national security and public order," Musa vowed.
On Friday, the Bar Council held an extraordinary general meeting and motions were passed demanding the resignations of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Musa.
A resolution was also passed to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and to ask Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi and the Human Rights Commission to look into the arrests of the five lawyers.
The five lawyers were arrested for gathering in front of the Brickfields police station to provide legal aid to those nabbed during a candlelight vigil in support of Bersih activist Wong Chin Huat.
Meanwhile, Musa said the recently-concluded 29th Aseanapol meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam had been very productive with police from various Asean nations agreeing to forge closer working ties.
"Tackling transnational crimes issues such as cyber-crime, terrorism, human and drug trafficking were top of the agenda. There are plans to set up a database on criminals which can be accessed by all Asean police," Musa said.
"If the Bar Council wants to be a pressure group, then they might as well become a non-governmental organisation. Lawyers are supposed to be professionals," he said.
"I will not allow Malaysia to become another Thailand. No organisation or body or person will be allowed to threaten national security and public order," Musa vowed.
On Friday, the Bar Council held an extraordinary general meeting and motions were passed demanding the resignations of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Musa.
A resolution was also passed to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and to ask Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi and the Human Rights Commission to look into the arrests of the five lawyers.
The five lawyers were arrested for gathering in front of the Brickfields police station to provide legal aid to those nabbed during a candlelight vigil in support of Bersih activist Wong Chin Huat.
Meanwhile, Musa said the recently-concluded 29th Aseanapol meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam had been very productive with police from various Asean nations agreeing to forge closer working ties.
"Tackling transnational crimes issues such as cyber-crime, terrorism, human and drug trafficking were top of the agenda. There are plans to set up a database on criminals which can be accessed by all Asean police," Musa said.
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