Bar Council admits receiving grant from OSF

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council has conceded that it received US$15,000 from George Soros' Open Society Foundations (OSF) as a grant for a study on migrant workers in Malaysia.

Bar Council Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Seri M. Rama­chel­vam revealed that the grant was received on Jan 7, 2015.

“It was used exclusively for the research study – payment of the researcher, transcribing and reviewing costs, consultation with stakeholders and out-of-pocket expenses.

“None of the grant was used for the Bar Council of Malaysia’s operating or administrative expenses,” he said yesterday, when asked to comment on allegations that the Bar might have received financial assistance from the foundation.

He explained that the Bar, through the Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Commi­ttee, was carrying out a research study on “Access to Justice for Migrants”.

“The study aims, among others, to identify the legal remedies available to migrants, the gaps in migrants accessing justice in the legal system and the labour courts and other administrative tribunals, and the good practices available for migrants to access justice in Malaysia,” he added. — Bernama