Around April later year, the Bar Council has launched a book by the title “Police and Your Basic Rights” which was a noble action initiated by a group of lawyer known as TANGKAP (Tindakan Anti PenyalahGunaan Kuasa Polis).[i]  The book is well known among the public as “The Red Book”.  The main objective of this book is to educate the public generally about their rights when being confronted by police. This is because a mass majority of people do not know their basic rights and thus this leads too many problems.The Red Book was officially launched on the 20^th of April 2006 by Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Law also with the ex-President of the Bar Council, Mr. Yeo Yang Poh.[ii]  Each and every individual have certain rights guaranteed under our very Federal Constitution.[iii] The police have powers to stop, arrest and search an individual under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC)[iv] but these powers are limited.In this topic, I will discuss …

(This article is contributed by Derek Chong Ching Hsiang, Law Student of Univeristy Malaya)

(more…)

Human rights. Fundamental rights. Natural rights. Such are common parlances describing ‘rights’. Legal minds passionately talk about it, and fight for it. It is our bread and butter. It is our sword and shield.And yet, and yet, everyday, we find this so-called ‘rights’ supposedly inherent in all human beings being ignored, violated and trampled upon. Everyday, people are detained without trial. Everyday, people are persecuted for their religious beliefs and their less-than-normal sexual orientation. Everyday, people are stifled from speaking their thoughts. Everyday, people are suffering in their pursuit of their own happiness while pretty much minding their own business.

(more…)