Bleak day for democracy

Press Release

Bleak day for democracy

The Malaysian Bar condemns the unwarranted police action in connection with the sitting of the Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak in Ipoh today, as reported in the media.

Members of the police force arrested people for being in the vicinity of the Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak. The police reportedly also prevented invited guests from entering the building to attend the official opening ceremony of the Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak sitting. The police acted in an unjustifiable and unacceptable manner when they reportedly physically and forcibly removed YB Sivakumar from the Speaker’s seat.

It is obvious that the conflicts that are currently being played out arise from the lack of clarity and certainty about which political coalition commands the majority in the Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak. Issues as to whether certain assemblymen should be permitted to attend the sitting, who the Speaker should be, the seating arrangements within the Dewan itself, all these and more are mere side-issues. Even when all is said and done, and the court decisions have been made, they may not reflect the will of the people.

As such, the only solution must be to go back to the people.

Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar
7 May 2009