EGM bomb scare: "We will not leave the hall until the resolutions are passed!"

The Malaysian Bar Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Friday had carried on despite a bomb scare in its building.

"Early in the proceedings of the EGM there was a report of a bomb in the building and that the police were present to scan or sweep the building.

"The members were informed of this by me as chairman of the meeting and we, the Malaysian Bar, decided to steadfastly remain in the hall to carry on with the EGM as the issue at hand was very important," said Christopher Leong, the Malaysian Bar president to Astro AWANI.

When asked whether the members of the Malaysian Bar regarded the decision towards the motion was more important than their lives, Christopher said that some members even shouted that they will not leave the hall until the resolutions were passed.

"We did of course try to hurry along the proceedings just in case," he said.

Christoper said the Malaysian Bar stayed true to their statutory duty under section 42(1)(a) of the Legal Profession Act to act without fear or favour, uninfluenced by their own interests.

The Malaysian Bar held the EGM at 3pm today to debate and approve a peaceful march against the Sedition Act 1948, which has been widely used as of late.

It overwhelmingly voted and passed a motion against the Sedition Act 1948, and to hold a peaceful march for its repeal.

Christopher said from a total of 986 members who attended the EGM, 701 voted for the motion while 13 voted against it.