HR Debate 2008: Welcome Address by Ambiga Sreenevasan, President, Malaysian Bar

© Malaysian Bar (Used with permission)
Contributed by Ambiga Sreenevasan

Every day should be Human Rights day.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted in response to the atrocities of World War II but we have nonetheless seen these atrocities repeated time and again since then.

If you had caught a CNN special programme called “Scream Bloody Murder” this weekend, you would have seen how so often governments sacrificed human rights to politics resulting in the needless loss of thousands of lives in horrendous acts of genocide.

Everyday we read of various acts of inhumanity perpetrated by man upon man.  Genocide is at one end of the scale.  Along the scale are many other acts of torture and cruelty. Unfortunately many are state-sanctioned. The death penalty, whipping, detention without trial, the torture of prisoners.&anbsp; These are but some.  And unfortunately they exist in Malaysia.

Welcome Address by Edmund Bon, Chairperson, Human Rights Committee

© Malaysian Bar (Used with permission)
Contributed by Edmund Bon Tai Soon

Good evening. Welcome to the inaugural Bar Council Human Rights Debate.

60 years ago on 10 December 1948, the modern international human rights movement was unleashed in the form of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) just 3 years after the end of World War II.

Many of us never experienced the War and it is difficult for us to understand what a truly significant achievement the UDHR was and how it has shaped our civilisation for the better.

Its on!

After months of preparation, the Bar Council Human Rights Debate tournament is happening NOW until Friday. As early as 10am, teams registered themselves at Hotel Malaya.

The Debate schedule

Tentative Programme 9-12 December 2008

Day one (9 December 2008):

0900 – 1200: Registration of participants

1200 – 1400: Lunch (Hotel Malaya)

1400 – 1600: Briefing for adjudicators and debaters (Hotel Malaya Seminar Room)

1930 – 2300: Opening Ceremony and Dinner (Bar Council)

Invitation to 3 events during the Human Rights Debate tournament

The following e-circular has been sent out to members of the Bar:

Malaysian Bar Council
____________________________________

No. 13, 15 & 17, Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2031 3003 (Hunting Line) Fax: 03-2034 2825, 2026 1313, 2072 5818
E-mail: council@malaysianbar.org.my
Website: http://www.malaysianbar.org.my

BC Circular No. 304/2008
Dated: 2 December 2008
To All Members of the Malaysian Bar and Pupils-in-Chambers

Bar Council Human Rights Debate 2008
9-12 December 2008
“UDHR @ 60 and still not all is right”
The inaugural Bar Council Human Rights Debate is on! Maju!!
Members of the Bar and pupils-in-chambers are cordially invited to attend the following events:
(1)    Opening Ceremony (sponsored by Zain & Co.): 730 pm, 9 December 2008, at the Bar Council Auditorium. Prominent public intellectual and former ISA detainee, Dr Syed Husin Ali, will launch the Debate and deliver the Keynote Speech.
(2)    International Human Rights Day Dinner (supported by the High Commission of Canada): 7pm, 11 December 2008, at Modesto’s, Lot 48652 Off Jalan Bukit Kiara, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. The keynote speaker will be Former Minister and fellow member of the Bar, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
(3)    Closing Ceremony (sponsored by Zain & Co.): 8pm, 12 December 2008, at the Bar Council Auditorium.

Can’t hardly wait

Its one more week to the tournament! The Organising Committee have been busy putting up the finishing touches to the event. The food has been catered, transport has been arranged, hotel rooms has been booked… we all just waiting for everyone to show up! We have excellent stuff to give away in the goody bags courtesy of our sponsors. And, as if that wasnt a treat enough for you, there is the Gala Dinner at Modesto’s to look forward to. Yep, we’re having the Human Rights Debate Gala Dinner at the Modesto’s in Hartamas, and the place is maju. We have acoustic performance and try our trivia challenge to win some cool prizes. Thats it for now. Keep it fresh and see everyone next week!

For the sake of argument

If you missed it in The Sun on 30 October 2008:

Human Rights & The Law: For the sake of argument
Contributed by Seira Sacha Binti Abu Bakar
Thursday, 30 October 2008 09:01am
©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Seira Sacha Abu Bakar

WHAT is a “debate”? Wikipedia says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate) that it “is a formal method of interactive and position representational argument”. That still does not say very much.

But how does a debate look like? See the US presidential debates between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, and closer to home, we witnessed Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek go head-to-head with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on television.

Introducing you…

some members of the BCHRC who are involved in this historic tournament. Heads up people! 

Puspha, Renu & Rachel. Farez at the back

Renu & Roger

Siti and Tina

Fadiah, Sasya and Usha

Seira & HR Dipendra

Puspa and Renu

e-Circular sent to members of the Malaysian Bar

The hype continues. The following e-circular was sent to members of the Bar today.
 
Malaysian Bar Council
____________________________________

No. 13, 15 & 17, Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2031 3003 (Hunting Line) Fax: 03-2034 2825, 2026 1313, 2072 5818
E-mail: council@malaysianbar.org.my
Website: http://www.malaysianbar.org.my
 

 

Circular No: 261/2008
Dated 14 October 2008
To All Members of the Malaysian Bar and Pupils in Chambers

Bar Council Human Rights Debate 2008

9-12 December 2008
“UDHR @ 60 and still not all is right”
We respectfully refer to Circular no. 212/2008.

The said Circular served to inform the Bar that in conjunction with Human Rights Day on 10 December 2008 and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the Human Rights Committee would be organising a unique ‘Human Rights Debate’ tournament on 9-12 December 2008 with University Technology MARA (UiTM).

Discussions with UiTM on the event started in May 2008. Unfortunately, UiTM, by a letter dated 28 August 2008, withdrew its participation for “unavoidable reasons”. We replied by a letter dated 29 August 2008 seeking further clarification for the withdrawal. UiTM explained by a letter dated 2 September 2008, inter alia:
Untuk makluman pihak tuan, pihak kami akan menjalankan beberapa program bersama Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi yang akan melibatkan ramai kakitangan universiti pada bulan Disember yang memerlukan persiapan yang panjang.

Keadaan juga menjadi lebih rumit apabila banyak bangunan di UiTM akan menjalani kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan dan kenaikan taraf, yang disarankan bermula pada bulan Disember.

Given the circumstances, we sought a new venue for the Debate, and we are glad to announce that KDU College (Petaling Jaya campus) has agreed to provide us with the use of their facilities.

We officially launched the tournament on 11 October 2008, and the President’s press statement may be accessed at:
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/press_statements/press_release_bar_council_human_rights_debate_udhr_60_and_still_not_all_is_right.html

A write-up of the event may also be found here:
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/human_rights/pertandingan_debat_hak_asasi_manusia_udhr_60_and_still_not_all_is_right.html

We are very excited about this first-of-its-kind tournament that seeks to attract more than 300 debaters from around the world. We hope that the Debate will help bridge ethnic, linguistic and cultural gaps to foster respect and understanding on various rights-related issues in the country. It should also in future be the preferred platform for the discussion of international and national policies.

The Debate will take the form of the British Parliamentary style where there will be 2 debaters on each team with opening and closing arguments by the “Government” and opening and closing arguments by the “Opposition”. Each debater is allocated 7 minutes. There will be 5 preliminary rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the grand final.

Members and pupils-in-chambers may participate in this Debate either as debaters or adjudicators. The teams may comprise a combination of members, pupils-in-chambers as well as non-members.

Alternatively, for those who do not wish to participate in the Debate tournament itself, there will be a parallel Public Speaking Competition for individual competitors. Attractive prizes await the winners. Further information may be obtained here: http://hrdebate08.wordpress.com/.

To participate, kindly fill in and return the respective registration forms (attached) by 10 November 2008. The forms can be faxed to the attention of Chin Oy Sim at 03-2031 2852. Photocopies of the forms are acceptable. Details regarding the applicable fees and the methods of payment are contained in Appendix A below.

Alternatively, you or your law firm may wish to support the event by being a sponsor.

For further details on participating in the Debate or contributing as a sponsor, kindly contact us through e-mail at hrdebate08@malaysianbar.org.my, or call Khaizan Sharizad at 019-695 8939 or Chin Oy Sim at 03-2031 6367.

We trust that you will join in our celebration of Human Rights Day by participating in, or sponsoring, this historic event.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
           
……………………………………   ……………………………………
Edmund Bon Tai Soon           (f) Khaizan Sharizad Binti Ab. Razak
Chairperson                          Chairperson
Human Rights Committee    HR Debate Organising Committee

 
Appendix A

The applicable fees in respect of the Debate Tournament and Public Speaking Competition are as follows:

I.     Debate Tournament

For participants

RM250 per person (for debater)
RM250 per person (for adjudicator)
RM250 per person (for officer/observer)

(Fee includes food and hotel accommodation)

Every team must have 2 debaters and 1 adjudicator. (For participating law firms, the maximum number of teams permitted is 5 per law firm).

For ‘Stay At Home’ participants

RM180 per person (for debater)
RM180 per person (for adjudicator)
RM180 per person (for officer/observer)

(Fee includes food)

Every team must have 2 debaters and 1 adjudicator. (For participating law firms, the maximum number of teams permitted is 5 per law firm).

II.     Public Speaking Competition

RM50 per person

(Fee includes food)

Payment Procedure
(i) Kindly send us the requisite fee(s) via wire transfer/direct deposit to the following bank account by 10 November 2008:
Account Name:    Bar Council
Account No:        301-022166-001
Bank:                  HSBC, No 2, Leboh Ampang, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Swift Code:          HBMBMYKL
Please pay all bank charges so that the Bar Council receives the full amount of the fees. We will not cover transaction costs.
After transferring or sending your fee, please e-mail us at hrdebate08@malaysianbar.org.my, and tell us your name, law firm, and the amount of money you transferred/sent. For verification purposes, please attach a copy of the transfer slip/cheque and the registration form to the e-mail you sent.
(ii) Alternatively, please send us your cheque(s) made in favour of the ‘Bar Council’.

Report of the press conference

Can be found here http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/human_rights/pertandingan_debat_hak_asasi_manusia_udhr_60_and_still_not_all_is_right.html

Pertandingan Debat Hak Asasi Manusia: “UDHR @ 60 and still not all is right”

Contributed by Seira Sacha Binti Abu Bakar

Sunday, 12 October 2008 09:39pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Pada 11 Oktober 2008, Majlis Peguam telah mengadakan satu sidang akbar melancarkan pertandingan Debat Hak Asasi Manusia 2008 yang akan berlangsung pada 9-12 Disember 2008 bertema “UDHR @ 60 and still not all is right”. Pertandingan ini dijalankan sempena sambutan sedunia Hari Hak Asasi Manusia, dan adalah projek Jawatankuasa Hak Asasi Manusia, Majlis Peguam. Kolej KDU telah bersetuju menjadi tempat pertandingan ini. Sidang akhbar yang berlangsung pada pukul 2.30 petang telah diketuai oleh Presiden Majlis Peguam, Dato’ Ambiga Sreevenasan, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Hak Asasi Manusia, Edmund Bon, Pengarah Pertandingan, Khaizan Sharizad bte Abd. Razak, dan ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Hak Asasi Manusia, Joanna Loy @ Loi Wen Shin, Rachel Vanuja Suppiah dan Siti Zabedah bte Kasim, serta juara Asia dan ‘Worlds Council Registrar’ dari Malaysia, Adiba Shareen. Sidang tersebut dimulakan oleh Dato’ Sreevenasan dengan beliau membaca kenyataan akhbar. Majlis berkenaan pertandingan Debat Hak Asasi Manusia tersebut. Antara lainnya, Dato’ Sreenevasan menyatakan bahawa beliau amat teruja berkenaan pertandingan ini yang akan melihat lebih kurang 300 peserta-peserta dari institusi-institusi tempatan dan antarabangsa berdebat isu-isu berhubung hak asasi. Edmund Bon kemudianya menyatakan bahawa tujuan pertandingan ini diadakan adalah untuk meningkatkan tahap persefahaman di kalangan masyarakat berkenaan hak asasi, dan memberi peluang bagi perbincangan isu-isu semasa secara terbuka. Menurut beliau,pertandingan seperti ini adalah satu ‘platform’ untuk masyarakat, khususnya kaum muda, untuk menyuarakan pendapat mereka di dalam suatu forum dan tempat yang selamat. Beliau seterusnya menambah bahawa bagi mereka yang tidak ingin berdebat, mereka boleh menyertai pertandingan ‘Public Speaking’ yang akan dijadualkan bersama-sama pertandingan debat. Dato’ Sreenevasan menyatakan bahawa Majlis Peguam telah mengajak beberapa ahli debat dunia terkenal seperti Mohd Faisal Moideen (peguam dari Malaysia), Neill Harvey Smith (dari Oxford), Sharmilla Pharmanand (dari Ateneo de Manila) dan Adiba Shareen untuk mengetuai barisan hakim pertandingan ini. Adiba Shareen dan Khaizan Sharizad menerangkan format pertandingan tersebut kepada anggota media. Pertandingan tersebut akan mengikut format ‘British Parliamentary Debating Format’ di mana debat tersebut dibahagikan kepada 4 bahagian – pembukaan oleh kerajaan, penutupan oleh kerajaan, pembukaan oleh pembangkang dan penutupan oleh pembangkang. Hadiah-hadiah wang tunai dan piala akan diberikan kepada pemenang-pemenang. Kepada soalan daripada anggota media sama ada Majlis Peguam ada mengambil sebarang langkah bagi mempastikan pertandingan ini tidak akan mengundang kontroversi seperti forum lain anjuran Majlis Peguam yang lepas, Dato’ Ambiga menjawab bahawa tiada sebarang langkah istimewa yang akan diambil memandangkan tiada elemen kontroversi dalam pertandingan ini. Majlis telah dan selalu menganjurkan program-program seperti biasa dan pada 13 Oktober 2008, suatu forum berkenaan “DNA Bill” akan diadakan. Ini kerana Majlis percaya peguam-peguam ingin berbincang masalah-masalah masyarakat dari aspek-aspek undang-undang dan ini perlu digalakkan. Kepada soalan berkenaan topik yang akan dipilih untuk pertandingan tersebut, Adiba menjawab bahawa topik untuk didebat oleh peserta-peserta akan hanya diumumkan sebelum pertandingan tersebut. Dato’ Ambiga menyatakan bahawa tidak terdapat sebarang perkara yang perlu dianggap sebagai sensitif dan dihalang dari dibincang dalam masyarakat majmuk kita pada hari ini. Edmund selanjutnya menyatakan bahawa salah satu tujuan utama pertandingan ini diadakan adalah untuk mempromosikan kebebasan untuk bersuara. Sekiranya terdapat pihak-pihak yang tidak bersetuju dengan konsep hak asasi manusia di negara ini, mereka dijemput dan diundang untuk menyertai pertandingan ini dan menyuarakan pendapat mereka. Pertandingan ini akan menggalakkan diskusi yang matang dan rasional kerana terdapatnya badan hakim-hakim terkemuka yang akan membuat keputusan pertandingan berdasarkan merit-merit hujahan. Sidang akhbar berakhir sekitar pukul 3.00 petang.