Recently, the Bar Council quietly delivered its “Discussion Paper on the Need to Separate the Posts of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor” to the Government. This was off the back of public discussions on the position of the AG, and a passionate write-up by Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan, a former senior ACA officer […]
Posted inSelected Exhortations
“Human Rights, You’re Damn Right!”: Iskandar Abdullah
The second prized speech by Iskandar Abdullah at the recently concluded Bar Council Public Speaking Competition held from 9 to 12 December 2008. As “host” of a TV show, he delivers with much gusto reasons we should embrace the “Human Rights product”.
Posted inLand HO!
Puisi untuk Zionis – Apabila Kemanusiaan Menjadi Taruhan, Apabila Dunia Dipasung Tangan
Di wajahnya penuh gusar Mengira larian mengatur langkah Sambil di tangannya menggenggam Sehelai selendang putih Bertompokan merah berwarna darah Dengan doa dan pasrah Mengharap diri tidak tersungkur Menyembah bumi Di hatinya penuh dendam Warnanya sudah hitam Tiada lagi belas Tiada lagi simpati Berwajah syaitan bertopengkan manusia Berperisai takbur jentera angkuh Tubuh mungil itu menjadi mangsa […]
Posted inTalking about Lawyers
Bar In Brief (B.I.B) Series: 11th Bar Council (BC) meeting 2008/09, 3 January 2009 (10am – about 4pm)
In an initiative to complement BC’s efforts to expedite the delivery of information to members of the Bar and/or the public, the “Bar In Brief” series will document a summary of BC decisions/discussions/updates at its monthly meetings. This is not an exhaustive list as there are some matters/decisions which cannot be revealed or discussed in […]
Posted inBolehland
What Sex Party?
The debacle surrounding the much hoped for New Year group sex party reviewed. I arrive at the usual conclusions on the Tourism Minister Azalina Othman, the Royal Malaysian Police and the local politically controlled mainstream media.
Posted inThe Lobby
The Gaza Crisis – Not Just Another War!
For the last two weeks or so, it is difficult for anyone to not talk or discuss the Gaza crisis. There are those who are outraged over the aggression on the Palestinians and there are those who believe that the aggression by the Israeli forces on the Palestinians is nothing more than a valid act […]
Posted inJudging the Judges
Appointing and Promoting Judges on Merit
In the New Sunday Times on 21 December 2008, it was reported that our Chief Justice was thinking of determining the seniority of judges based on merit instead of time served on the bench. “Merit” would also be a relevant factor for the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to consider in the appointment and promotion of […]
Posted inLet's Talk About Sex
Homosexuality & Rainforest Destruction
Question: What do homosexuality and rainforest destruction have in common?
Posted inSelected Exhortations
Freedom from Fear: Aung San Suu Kyi (1990)
We live in interesting times. A climate of fear allows the corrupt and the cruel to continue with their ways of repression and oppression. Malaysians need to take up our cudgels, rise up and break the chains of fear which bind us. Revolutionise our minds! Free the spirit! Formerly beleaguered past President of the Malaysian […]
Posted inSelected Exhortations
Year in Review 2008: Fight for rights far from over
Edmund Bon Tai Soon’s comment piece published in theSun on 26 December 2008 in its ‘Year in Review 2008′. Reproduced here. THIS year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). While we celebrate it, it is also a time to reflect on some milestones in respect of civil and political […]
Posted inPray For Me
Is GOD dead?
First posted as draft-test version on 20 April 2006. Just edited for clarity and language. Thank you Yvonne Young for your insightful comment on 26 December 2008 which compelled this. Re-posted below. Relevant, I think, as the year 2008 draws to an end but atrocities in Gaza escalate.
Posted inLB Rants
‘Baby-bed’ launch of LB.com, 25 December 2008
This is the blawg: https://www.loyarburok.com/ The Lord is glad that the site is finally, albeit softly and simply, launched – yesterday – and up and running! Thank you all who made it, and to Seira and Sherrie (the S-ploited) who performed. The Lord’s cohorts spoke about the history, vision and work plan of LB.com which […]
Posted inSave The Children
Isu anak-anak muda JERIT: Hentikan penindasan rakyat tertindas
Terdapat beberapa pendapat dan ulasan dalam media massa baru-baru ini yang menyuarakan perasaan tidak menyelesakan berkenaan peranan seramai lebih dari 20 anak-anak muda JERIT yang telah mengayuh basikal-basikal mereka sempena kempen basikal JERIT ‘Rakyat Pengayuh Perubahan’. Pendapat-pendapat dan ulasan-ulasan ini telah menimbulkan perasaan yang amat tidak menyenangkan kerana ia sama sekali tidak memberi perspektif yang […]
Posted inTalking about Lawyers
Loyar Buruk Loyar Burok Loyar Beruk LB
Memang benar bahawa selalunya terdapat golongan kecil atau minoriti dalam setiap profesion yang akan memburuk-burukkan nama dan reputasi profesion tersebut. Tingkahlaku minoriti akan dilihat sebagai satu representasi profesion tersebut secara amnya.
Posted inSelected Exhortations
“Gay rights are simply the rights of gay persons to live in peace and dignity,…”: Gabrielle Chong
19-year old Gabrielle Chong won the first prize at the recently concluded Bar Council Public Speaking Competition held from 9 to 12 December 2008. She spoke passionately about the continuing marginalisation and discrimination of LGBTs, and moved the judges with her simple message delivering the essence of what it means to be human. Do also […]
Posted inJudging the Judges
The Judicial Appointment Commission – A Deformed Reform
I have said it a million times before and I will say it again. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi just loves establishing committees and commissions just as he loves leaving, and probably living, in a jet plane! At a whiff of an issue or matter which has the minutest semblance of a complication, no matter how simple […]
Posted inSelected Exhortations
“Democracy is more than the ritual casting of a ballot at multi-party elections. True democracy involves…”: Amos Kok
We applaud him, and in our hearts thank him for giving a reminder why many still shoulder on this struggle. As mentioned here, find the unplugged version of law student, Amos Kok‘s speech at the MALSA launch on 20 December 2008. Only minor editorial editions have been made to preserve the original message and tone […]
Posted inWomen Rule
Where have all the female heroes gone?
A 16 year-old girl was asked to name three female characters that she found inspiring. She quickly rattled off, “Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears.” Why? “Because they are pretty and boys love them.”
Posted inTalking about Lawyers
Beware, new collective in town – introducing MALSA!
20 December 2008 saw the launch of a new rights-based collective of law students. Numbering more than 100 already from over five private colleges, it will grow in strength very fast very soon.
Posted inJudging the Judges
Notes on a Talk by Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad
On 6 November 2008, the former Malaysian Chief Justice, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, gave a talk titled ‘Harmonization of Common Law and Shari’ah in Malaysia: A Practical Approach’ at Harvard University in honour of Abd Al-Razzaq Al-Sanhuri, a highly respected Egyptian scholar and jurist. These were some of my notes and thoughts upon reading the speech. All Quranic translation are taken from the translation rendered Abdullah Yusuf Ali with his commentary; Published by Amana Corporation. Finally, though I make general references to Muslims and non-Muslims, I appreciate the hybrid nature of one’s personality and affiliations as posited by Edward Said, and my doing so is merely to facilitate directness of expression where thoughts of the interaction between the two social constructs are concerned.