PUTRAJAYA: The proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act 1976 (Act 166), if approved by the Cabinet, will be tabled in Parliament this October and are expected to benefit 23,000 legal practitioners in the country.
The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU) in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 20) said that a Cabinet Memorandum for consideration and approval will also be brought later for the proposed amendment to Act 166.
For that purpose, a meeting between the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and the Bar Council was held recently to discuss some necessary improvements to Act 166 and measures to strengthen legal services in meeting future challenges.
"The meeting discussed several matters in Act 166 that require improvements, namely limited liability legal partnerships, legal aid centres, Section 77 regarding Bar Council’s powers with the approval of the Attorney General and Sections 11, 15, and 36 related to pupillage," the statement read.
According to BHEUU, the Bar Council has also proposed the establishment of an Inter Asean Lawyer's Association.
Further discussions were also held regarding the formulation of new legislation related to legal aid that will take into account the public defence aspect of criminal cases, which are currently being handled by the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK).
The government is of the view that the Bar Council should be given ample space to determine its own direction in managing the affairs of the legal profession, including administrative matters and the welfare of its members.
The discussion was also attended by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran and Bar Council president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab. – Bernama
