KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — The Malaysian Bar could halt all engagement with the government on legal reforms following members’ protest against the proposed changes to the Legal Profession Act 1976.
Its president, George Varughese, said the professional body may convene an extraordinary general meeting to put the matter to a vote.
“Although there was no motion to discuss it, many members had raised concerns about the process that is taking place,” he told reporters here.
Lawyers raised the issue at the Malaysian Bar’s 72nd annual general assembly here today.
Putrajaya is pushing for amendments to the LPA that included proposals to appoint two government representatives to the Bar Council and raise the quorum at Malaysian Bar general meetings.
Some have viewed this as a backdoor attempt to control and silence the body, which has been very critical of the government. Others have claimed the amendments could undermine its independence.
To appease its critics, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Azalina included the Bar in the drafting process.
But many of its members felt the the move was merely window dressing, pointing to complaints that the government had failed to consider crucial reform proposals by the Bar, Varughese said.
“For example they could have considered separating the Attorney General from public prosecution's office, that would have been more holistic,” he said.
