Gutsy Siti Kasim Defends Secularism In Malaysian Law Fraternity Nobody Is Forcing Anybody To Bottoms Up

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THE word “bar” is globally accepted as a venue where alcoholic drinks are sold and drank, hence wouldn’t it be absurd for the Malaysian Bar to prohibit the consumption of beer or liquor at its events which presumably has been a tradition since its establishment in 1947?
Thankfully, sane mind still prevails among within the 500-strong members of the professional body which regulates the profession of lawyers in peninsular Malaysia as such idea was eventually shot down.
After all, wouldn’t the Malaysian Bar be discrediting itself by curtailing the freedom of its non-Muslin members who may want to occasionally treat themselves to sone booze in the midst of in-house socialising?

Undeniably, there are bound to be some isolated cases of members who end up getting drunk every now and then but this should not be a valid excuse to curtail mature members who know their limitation so as not to rely on alcoholic beverages as companions to de-stress themselves.
And it makes even more sense when secular champion Siti Kasim expressed aghast at pious members who mooted the idea of blanket ban on alcohol consumption within the professional grouping.
“Keep your religious beliefs to yourself,” she chastised them on her Facebook page.
“No one is forcing you to drink alcohol if you don’t want to. Each one bears their own burden. That’s what the Quran says. Don’t bring your moral and religious values onto others.”

Earlier, the human rights activist and lawyer had expressed her discontent over the alcohol ban proposal while rallying    fellow Malaysian Bar members to oppose the so-called “Malaysian Bar AGM Motion No 5.14”.
“Lawyers who believe no one has the right to impose one’s belief onto others, please turn up now. They brought their supporters in a bus load!” she urged.

“We must shoot this motion down! I’ve been here since 8am (March 15). At the very least come and vote against this motion”.
For the record, the 79th Malaysian Bar AGM was held yesterday (March 15) at Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang.
Saving the best for last, the Motion 5.14 on the “Non-Serving and/or Providing any Alcoholic Drink for Malaysian Bar and State Bars” was proposed by member Aqbal Shiffuddin Adnan Sallehudin on March 6.
According to the Malaysian Legal Resources, the lawyer who is practicing in Sungai Petani, Kedah under the law firm Azhar & Fazuny was admitted to the Malaysian Bar on June 23, 1998 and holds a legal qualification from the International Islamic University (IIUM).
According to the Malay Mail, Aqbal’s motion argued that alcohol consumption poses health risks such as liver disease, addiction and adverse mental health effects.
It also stressed that the presence of alcohol at Malaysian Bar events could lead to unprofessional behaviour and create potential liabilities for the organisation.

Hence, the motion claimed that banning alcohol would foster a more supportive atmosphere while reducing discomfort for certain members, especially Muslim lawyers.
Recall that a similar motion was brought forth in 2017, citing the multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition of the legal fraternity and religious prohibitions on alcohol consumption.
However, that motion was also defeated by a large majority. – Focus Malaysia

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