It was an ironic finale but nevertheless fitting when Bar Council chief found herself answering questions on the possibility of being put away under the Internal Security Act after hosting a forum on one of the country's most oppressive laws.

bar council sedition forum 110808 ambigaMinutes after Ambiga Sreenevasan closed the council's seminar on sedition law, she was asked to comment on suggestions by various parties that the council and herself be held under ISA.

But the gutsy chief held her ground and said: "What can I say? They have to do their job and they have to do what they have to do and we will just see what happens."

"But I've said earlier that the police resources are best used fighting real crime," she added.

The Bar Council has come under fire over the last two days after hosting a forum entitled "Conversion to Islam: Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution" last Saturday.

The forum, meant to discuss issues affecting Malaysians who have had family members who converted, was called off abruptly after some 300 protesters gathered in front of the Bar Council on Saturday.

Amid a hostile atmosphere of protesters threatening to storm the Bar Council, the council ended the half-day forum at 10am, an hour after it had begun.

Today, various leaders of Islamic NGOs, Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam, Umno Puteri information chief Shahaniza Shamsuddin and PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub were among those who have suggested that Ambiga and the Bar Council be cited under the ISA and Sedition Act for Saturday's incident.

The body of legal practitioners has nevertheless resolved to stand their ground.

Looking for solutions

When asked if the threats would stop them from hosting other similar forums, Ambiga said: "There are no immediate plans for another one.

"We will continue to do what we think is in the best interests of the public and our members.

"But if what has happened on Saturday means we are going to create and look for solutions then that has to be a good thing.

On what those solutions may be, Ambiga said it will have to be in the form of amendments to legislature.

"The Law Reform, Marriage and Divorce Act is one of the laws which can be looked at to deal with these particular situations."

When asked if the changes would touch on the jurisdiction of the civil and syariah courts, she said no.

"This is more to deal with the situation where the conversion is due to take place. The converting spouse has to solve all the problems of the civil marriage before moving on.

"That is in a discussion phase. Our stand is neither converting spouse nor the non-converting spouse or the children should suffer," said Ambiga.

Forum on sedition

Earlier in the day, the Bar Council held a half-day seminar on sedition law.

Among the speakers were former Bar chief Raja Aziz Addruse, Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Monash University lecturer Wong Chin Huat, human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz and Malaysiakini editor K Kabilan.

The forum was moderated by Bar Council human rights committee chairperson Edmund Bon.

The fluid discussion ranged from effects, implications and selected usage of sedition laws, its necessity to repeal and fine-tuning the act.