KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to make an annual audit mandatory for the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) following its recently revealed and controversial 17-year unaudited status.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said the new requirement would be part of the planned Legal Profession Act 1976 (Act 166) amendments.
“We are planning to bring it up soon in a Cabinet meeting and once approved, (the amendment Bill) will be tabled in the current Parliament meeting that will end on Dec 12.
“Once it is passed, the Auditor-General will be in charge of conducting mandatory audits of LPQB accounts every single year,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 12).
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He revealed that the post of LPQB secretary, responsible for arranging audits of its accounts, had been vacant for three years.
“We have since discussed having this position filled as quickly as possible to help future audits proceed smoothly,” he added.
Kulasegaran also revealed that LPQB had recorded over RM10mil in operational costs and expenses for the past five years.
“This included payments for employee salaries, allowances, Social Security Organisation and Employees Provident Fund contributions.
“Other expenses include office rental, utility bills, insurance fees, supplies, alignment fees, payment of office assets, and lawyer fees.
“RM4mil was also spent to hold Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) examinations in the same period,” he added.
Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) asked for details of LPQB's operational costs and if the board's accounts have been audited.
