Bar Council backs all July 9 rallies, raps Hisham

The Bar Council said freedom of assembly is an essential right for a democracy and is thus backing three groups intending to rally on July 9.

Bar Council chairperson Lim Chee Wee (centre) said freedom of assembly was also protected under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution and the authorities should take heed of this.

He said that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein should not be clamping down on the rallies, reminding him that his grandfather Onn Jaafar had also once taken to the streets in the name of democracy.

"It should be recalled that it was the United Malays National Organisation led by Onn Jaafar, the then-president of Umno, who is the grandfather of our present Home Minister, which led the public to the streets nationwide to protest the setting-up of the Malayan Union.

“Subsequent Umno leaders have also led street demonstrations, for example to call for independence and those in support of the Palestinians,” he said.

Lim emphasised that public rallies have therefore been very much part and parcel of our history, whether to protest injustices of the colonial administration or other injustices, such as those we are currently experiencing with the electoral system.

“Those who say the street protests are not part of our culture are clearly ignorant of our nation's rich history,” he said.

Lim, at a press conference, called on the government to respect the right for a clean and peaceful walk.

Also present was his vice-president Christopher Leong and secretary, Tony Woon.