KUALA LUMPUR: The amendments to the Legal Profession Act 1976, aimed at making the Bar Council more transparent and democratic, is hoped to address bread and butter issues faced by legal practitioners.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the council is expected to give its feedback on the bill in September.
"I will then present the draft (of the bill) to the Cabinet before it can be tabled in parliament.
"The amendments are not meant to control the legal body, but aimed at protecting some 17,000 legal practitioners including those in the corporate and syariah fields.
"The bill has yet to be finalised and is subject to changes based on the feedback from the relevant parties," she told a press conference in Parliament today.
She said among the issues raised were common Bar examination, and the electronic voting system in electing representatives for the council.
She said the amendments were in line with Section 42(1)(l) of the act that read, “promote good relations and social intercourse amongst members and between members and other persons concerned in the administration of law and justice in Malaysia”.
Azalina had earlier attended her first official meeting with representatives from the Bar Council and Legal Aid Foundation after taking over legal affairs recently.
Also present at the meeting were Solicitor-general Datuk Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek, Prime Minister's Department legal affairs division director-general Datuk Mohd Zuki Ali and Bar Council president Steven Thiru.