Lawyers Who Used Kids In Freedom Walk Are Cowards, Says Nazri

Bernama, Mon 10 Dec 2007 18:18 PM MYT
 

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today expressed doubts over the appointments of office bearers in the Bar Council, claiming that their elections were disputed.

"While their internal democracy issues cannot be solved, they are now trying to meddle with the affairs of the nation.

"I urge the Bar Council to register as a political party and contest the government in the general election, if they are not happy and do not want this system," he told reporters after opening the Disaster Awareness Day seminar here Monday.

On Bar Council chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan's criticism of the arrests of nine people, including four lawyers, participating in the `People's Freedom Walk' on Sunday, he said the responsibility of interpreting the law lay solely with the court.

The four lawyers were detained for illegal assembly after ignoring police orders to disperse while participating in the "People's Freedom Walk" which had been called off by the Bar Council.

Meanwhile, Nazri expressed appreciation for the stand taken by the Indian government in not giving support to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

On Hindraf's claim that Umno was their enemy and not the Malays, he said: "I do not think the Malays will be fooled by that statement.

"We know Hindraf does not represent the Indian society in Malaysia. They are not even registered as a political party but are cowards trying to take advantage of the Indian society," he said.

More than 300 people attended the two-day seminar organised by the National Security Council of the Prime Minister's Department. — BERNAMA