Zaid: We need to get our young people to recognise the rights they have

© Malaysian Bar (Used with permission)
Contributed by Lai Chee Hoe

In conjunction with the Human Rights Debate 2008 organised by the Bar Council Human Rights Committee, an International Human Rights Day gala dinner was held at Modesto’s, Desa Sri Hartamas.

Lawyers and guests started to stream in at 7.00pm. The event started off with the welcome address by Andrew Khoo, the Co-Deputy Chair of the Human Rights Committee. Andrew brought along a bicycle wheel and voiced his disappointment over the recent arrests of members of Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT) by the police. He described human rights as a tyre covering and protecting the spokes and the frame of a wheel.

“You could ride the bicycle with a flat tyre but eventually you will damage the frame. Likewise if you ignore human rights, you undermine the basic structure of our country and you will eventually destroy it.”

International Human Rights Day Dinner

The dinner/party was smashing. Despite the rain, participants, guests and media started arriving as early as 630 to register themselves on the guestlist.

Big up to the Canadian embassy for hosting the event.

Andrew Khoo giving his welcoming speech with a bicycle wheel

Canadian rep giving his opening speech

 

Dato' Zaid Ibrahim delivering his keynote speech

Some light entertainment from Hidayah

And Black

President of the Malaysian Bar boogie woogie with the crowd

After the dinner, the Adjudicator Core announced the teams for the Semi Final. More after this post.