April 23, 2019
The Federal Court’s decision to impose a prison sentence on lawyer Arun Kasi for contempt has courted flak from legal eagles.
Among them was former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who suggested that the Malaysian Bar organise a march to the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.
“Don’t let Arun suffer alone. This is the beginning of New Malaysia that we must oppose,” he tweeted.
Eric Paulsen, the country representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, said the sentence was unnecessary and would not promote public confidence.
“Justice is not a cloistered virtue, and everyone must be allowed to be critical, rightly, wrongly, even being rude or outspoken regarding the judiciary,” he added.
‘Freedom of speech at stake’
According to Paulsen, the offence of scandalising the judiciary is archaic, and should be abolished.
“Respect for the judiciary cannot be enhanced through contempt proceedings, i.e., the courts themselves assessing whether allegations of impropriety against the judiciary are justified.
“What is at stake is freedom of speech. It is our right to speak out on matters of public interest and judges and their judgments should not be shielded from criticisms,” he tweeted.
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) advisor N Surendran said a fine would have been sufficient in Arun’s (above) case.
“Imprisonment for contempt should be imposed only in the most serious cases. More so, since there is no right of appeal from the sentence,” he tweeted.
‘Excessive sentence’
Expressing a similar sentiment, civil rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan deemed the custodial sentence “unnecessary”.
“The custodial sentence on Arun for contempt is unnecessary. A 30-day custodial sentence is excessive. A fine would have been sufficient,” tweeted the lawyer, who is also political secretary to DAP lawmaker Lim Kit Siang.
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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/473407
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/149793
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/473354
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/473413 (MALAYSIAN)