No double standard in enforcing the law on law breakers - Abdullah

Bernama, Sun 9 Dec 2007 5:45 PM MYT
 

PETALING JAYA: The Government does not practise double standard when taking action on law breakers even if they are lawyers, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Sunday.

"Even today I've been informed that police have arrested eight people (including four lawyers). Even though they are lawyers, if they break the law, definitely action will be taken against them.

"There is no favouritism whatsoever on this matter," he told reporters after giving away prizes to golfers participating in the MasterCard-ntv7 Platinum Golf Masters 2007 Charity Grand Finals at Saujana Golf Club in Subang, near here.

Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, was responding to reporters' questions on the arrests of four lawyers and four activists at Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur this morning for participating in an illegal march.

A group of 50 people, including lawyers, activists, bloggers and members of non-governmental organisations, wearing surgical masks, staged a "Peace Walk" to mark World Human Rights Day tomorrow.

They had earlier gathered in front of the Sogo Shopping Complex before walking through the busy Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to the Bar Council building at Jalan Raja, about 2km away.

The group has not only violated the law for not having a police permit to hold an illegal assembly, they have also snubbed the Bar Council's decision to cancel the assembly very much earlier.

Abdullah said the police took appropriate action in tackling today's illegal assembly as the participants had defied the law,

"They did not obey the law, they still want to protest and they acted in defiance of the law. Definitely, the police have to take action in accordance with the law," he said.

The Prime Minister said anti-government actions and defiance of the law must stop as they were of no benefit to the country and the people.

"They are not our culture. These are not the ways we should emulate," he said.

Asked on the Indian government's move to steer clear from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Abdullah said he appreciated very much the Indian government's stand.

The Prime Minister said Malaysia enjoyed cordial relations with India based on mutual respect between two friendly and sovereign nations.

"Furthermore, it is based on the understanding that a country's domestic problem is the sovereign right of that country to take action in accordance with the rule of law and constitutional provisions.

"Therefore, I appreciate very much the Indian government's stand," he added.

Earlier, Abdullah received donations totalling RM500,000 from the charity golf tournament for the Taman Bakti Children's Home in Kepala Batas and the Mentally Retarded Children's Welfare Association in Seberang Prai Tengah.

Abdullah is the Member of Parliament for Kepala Batas.