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A slew of high-profile accusations puts Malaysia’s new Independent Police Conduct Commission under scrutiny

Team ABA January 17, 2024

Channel News Asia | A slew of scandals involving the Malaysian police, including allegations against one for raping a foreign student, has cast the spotlight on the membership of an independent body tasked to probe complaints against the men in blue. Malaysian lawyer Edmund Bon said that the IPCC wields very limited power, and is in essence more of a referral commission.

Attempted murder or arson? Ball in cops’ court over Molotov cocktail attack on Beruas MP Ngeh’s home, lawyers say

Team ABA January 16, 2024

Malay Mail | The police will investigate the Molotov cocktail attack against Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham’s home in Perak as they deem fit even when it was opened under suspicion of arson. Lawyer Siti Summaiyah Ahmad Jaafar said that if the investigations and forensics report point towards something more, like murder or kidnapping, the perpetrators may be charged accordingly.

Will Netflix listen if Putrajaya heeds Najib’s request to remove ‘Man on the Run’?

Team ABA January 14, 2024

Malay Mail | Former PM Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had complained about the contents of the 1MDB documentary Man on the Run to the High Court during the 1MDB trial proceedings. Lawyer New Sin Yew opined that it would be hard to force Netflix to heed any request to remove the documentary. He also believed that Netflix, being a foreign-based entity with servers abroad, raises jurisdictional challenges.

South Africa takes Israel to world court

Team ABA January 12, 2024

BFM | South Africa is taking Israel to the International Court of Justice, claiming the Gaza attacks amount to genocide and are in contravention of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. BFM spoke to human rights lawyer Edmund Bon to understand the processes involved in this.

PM’s majority best tested on Dewan Rakyat’s floor, say lawyers

Team ABA January 9, 2024

Free Malaysia Today | Following the Perak crisis in 2009 when three state assemblymen defected, the Federal Court ruled in 2010 that statutory declarations of elected representatives may be used to gauge support for a PM or state MB. Nevertheless, Edmund Bon, who was on the team of lawyers representing the ousted Perak MB, said a vote in Parliament is better as it will show clear support in numerical terms.

“Test PMX’s majority in Parliament,” Puad challenges opposition

Team ABA January 9, 2024

Focus Malaysia | Lawyers Bastian Pius Vendargon and Edmund Bon told FMT that a “floor test” would be the best option to determine whether the head of government retains the confidence of a majority of the elected representatives. But an UMNO Supreme Council member clalimed that PN will not agree to test PM Anwar’s majority in Parliament as it would expose the opposition coalition’s insufficient numbers.

From ‘Dubai Move’ to ‘Chow Kit Move’: Experts say toppling bid highlights unpatched loopholes in anti-hopping law

Team ABA January 7, 2024

Malay Mail | Legal experts sounded alarm against recent attempts by PN to topple the Anwar administration through defections, highlighting how the anti-party hopping law has not addressed defections. Lawyer New Sin Yew likened loopholes in the law to a doughnut with a hole in the middle – as long as the MPs stay with their party and don’t resign, even if they are sacked from their parties, they will not lose their seats.

Why Court of Appeal upheld ‘Gay is OK!’ book ban in 2-1 decision

Team ABA January 4, 2024

Malay Mail | Here’s a quick summary what happened with the book ban and why, based on the Court of Appeal’s majority and minority judgments released last month, and the High Court’s decision, as well as other documents. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Micheal Cheah are representing the book author and publisher.

Kevin Morais murder trial: Defence implores the court to set aside personal sentiment

Team ABA December 14, 2023

The Edge Malaysia | The lawyers representing the three men who are appealing against their guilty conviction of murdering the late DPP Anthony Kevin Morais implored the judges of the case to set aside their friendship with Morais in deciding on the men’s appeal. Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing S. Nimalan, said the bench has to put aside its sentiment regarding the deceased, and follow the law.

A slew of high-profile accusations puts Malaysia’s new Independent Police Conduct Commission under scrutiny

January 17, 2024

Channel News Asia | A slew of scandals involving the Malaysian police, including allegations against one for raping a foreign student, has cast the spotlight on the membership of an independent body tasked to probe complaints against the men in blue. Malaysian lawyer Edmund Bon said that the IPCC wields very limited power, and is in essence more of a referral commission.

Attempted murder or arson? Ball in cops’ court over Molotov cocktail attack on Beruas MP Ngeh’s home, lawyers say

January 16, 2024

Malay Mail | The police will investigate the Molotov cocktail attack against Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham’s home in Perak as they deem fit even when it was opened under suspicion of arson. Lawyer Siti Summaiyah Ahmad Jaafar said that if the investigations and forensics report point towards something more, like murder or kidnapping, the perpetrators may be charged accordingly.

Will Netflix listen if Putrajaya heeds Najib’s request to remove ‘Man on the Run’?

January 14, 2024

Malay Mail | Former PM Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had complained about the contents of the 1MDB documentary Man on the Run to the High Court during the 1MDB trial proceedings. Lawyer New Sin Yew opined that it would be hard to force Netflix to heed any request to remove the documentary. He also believed that Netflix, being a foreign-based entity with servers abroad, raises jurisdictional challenges.

South Africa takes Israel to world court

January 12, 2024

BFM | South Africa is taking Israel to the International Court of Justice, claiming the Gaza attacks amount to genocide and are in contravention of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. BFM spoke to human rights lawyer Edmund Bon to understand the processes involved in this.

PM’s majority best tested on Dewan Rakyat’s floor, say lawyers

January 9, 2024

Free Malaysia Today | Following the Perak crisis in 2009 when three state assemblymen defected, the Federal Court ruled in 2010 that statutory declarations of elected representatives may be used to gauge support for a PM or state MB. Nevertheless, Edmund Bon, who was on the team of lawyers representing the ousted Perak MB, said a vote in Parliament is better as it will show clear support in numerical terms.

“Test PMX’s majority in Parliament,” Puad challenges opposition

January 9, 2024

Focus Malaysia | Lawyers Bastian Pius Vendargon and Edmund Bon told FMT that a “floor test” would be the best option to determine whether the head of government retains the confidence of a majority of the elected representatives. But an UMNO Supreme Council member clalimed that PN will not agree to test PM Anwar’s majority in Parliament as it would expose the opposition coalition’s insufficient numbers.

From ‘Dubai Move’ to ‘Chow Kit Move’: Experts say toppling bid highlights unpatched loopholes in anti-hopping law

January 7, 2024

Malay Mail | Legal experts sounded alarm against recent attempts by PN to topple the Anwar administration through defections, highlighting how the anti-party hopping law has not addressed defections. Lawyer New Sin Yew likened loopholes in the law to a doughnut with a hole in the middle – as long as the MPs stay with their party and don’t resign, even if they are sacked from their parties, they will not lose their seats.

Why Court of Appeal upheld ‘Gay is OK!’ book ban in 2-1 decision

January 4, 2024

Malay Mail | Here’s a quick summary what happened with the book ban and why, based on the Court of Appeal’s majority and minority judgments released last month, and the High Court’s decision, as well as other documents. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Micheal Cheah are representing the book author and publisher.

Kevin Morais murder trial: Defence implores the court to set aside personal sentiment

December 14, 2023

The Edge Malaysia | The lawyers representing the three men who are appealing against their guilty conviction of murdering the late DPP Anthony Kevin Morais implored the judges of the case to set aside their friendship with Morais in deciding on the men’s appeal. Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing S. Nimalan, said the bench has to put aside its sentiment regarding the deceased, and follow the law.