Let an election be an election. Pre-filtration practice such as section 46A of the Legal Profession Act - disqualifies members below seven years of experience from being elected as council members - should never ever exist in a true democratic society.

Such externally imposed restriction is not seen in other professional bodies, not for lawyers in other countries, not does it exist in Malaysia's electoral system.

It is the fundamental right of all members of the Bar to stand for election and to elect their representatives without fear or favour in accordance with their own will.

Lawyers are supposed to uphold justice without fear or favour. We must have confidence in our fellow colleagues to be able to cast their votes with sufficient rationale, morality and responsibility.

We cannot remain silent against our own colleagues who have been deprived their fundamental freedom to vote or be voted. More so, it violates the constitutional law as provided under the federal constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.