A peaceful 'Walk for Justice' organised by the Bar Council ended with the submission of a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Department calling for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry to stem the slide in the judiciary.
A four-member delegation from the Bar Council submitted the memorandum to an official from the PM's Department, as the premier is currently in New York.

They also submitted a second memorandum calling for the establishment of a judicial commission to oversee the appointment of judges.

Having earlier defied a police order not to march to the office, some 2,000 protesters waited patiently outside for their representatives to hand over the documents, braving heavy rain which started about 12.45pm.

The protesters - most of them lawyers - had taken about 30 minutes to walk the 3.5km to the building.

They chanted "We want justice" as they marched, holding placards stating "Judiciary has gone to the dogs" and "Judiciary has gone down the drain".

A four-member delegation led by Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan then went into the PM's Department to meet with the premier's political secretary.

Earlier, the protesters, who had gathered at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya this morning, were denied permission by the police to march to the Prime Minister's Department to submit the memorandum.

According to eyewitnesses, Putrajaya police chief Supt Abdul Razak Abdul Majid told the protest organisers - the Bar Council - that the march could not proceed due to security reasons.

Bar Council vice-chairperson Ragunath Kesavan, who confirmed the police ban, added that they nevertheless proceeded with the march.

The protesters heard a short speech from Ambiga before starting their march at noon - an hour later than scheduled.

"We walk peacefully and with dignity," said Ambiga, who added that she was overwhelmed by, and proud of, the good turnout today.

She said that the march is a "walk for justice" as "we deserve a first-class judiciary".

"When lawyers walk, that means there is something wrong. We want changes in the judiciary," she said.

Independent panel

Ambiga also reiterated that the Bar welcomed the government's move to set up an independent panel to look into the Lingam tape, the latest in a series of scandals involving the judiciary.

"This shows that the government recognises that there is a problem. However, we still want a royal commission of inquiry," she said.

Ambiga said of the panel inquiry: "It can only be the first step. They can't force the presentation of witnesses or documents."

She described the heavy security during the protest, including the presence of anti-riot police and a police helicopter, as "an act of intimidation".

This morning, seven buses packed with protesters were stopped by police from entering Putrajaya, but the occupants made their way on foot to the Palace of Justice.

When contacted, Abdul Razak said he was busy (on the ground) and was not able to comment.

(Photographs by Malaysiakini and readers YS Low and Fahri Azzat)


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