The government has no plans to form an alternative organisation to the Bar Council just yet, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

Saying this at a press conference this afternoon, he however reiterated that the question of an alternative association arose because of the perceived bias of the current Bar Council line-up.

christmas school 261211 muhyiddin“There may only be 1,200 active members, but the total number of (ordinary) members is more than that.

“I think perhaps the silent majority in the Malaysian Bar do not agree with what (the Bar Council) is doing,” he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, said the Bar was burdened with the perception that it is being monopolised by the opposition.

“They never give due credit to good things, all were the fault of the government and police,” he said.

He said the Bar’s decision to take sides and not act fairly had not helped its image as a professional body.

“A day before the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was held, we already knew the outcome, because we know their intention and tendency.

“This is the perception. If they don’t agree, then they must prove otherwise,” he said.

'Only few protested Najib'

Asked about Najib’s visit to London, England, in which the prime minister was jeered by a group of protesters, Muhyiddin said he believed Najib as a statesman "would not take it to heart".

He said "only two or three persons" staged the protest while the majority of the attendees welcomed Najib with open arms.

“I doubt if (the protesters) are Malaysians. Maybe they have already become permanent residents in that country, they did not behave like Malaysians,” he said.