PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council has vowed to file disciplinary complaints against any lawyer or law firm implicated in the recent alleged corruption involving bank loan financing.
Its president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said the council acknowledged media reports of several bank officers charged with receiving bribes from law firms in exchange for recommending them as providers of housing financing documents.
“This matter is very serious as it undermines public trust, not only in financial institutions but also in the integrity of the legal profession.
“The Malaysian Bar strongly condemns all forms of corruption. Integrity and independence are fundamental pillars of the legal profession, and any conduct that undermines these values is unacceptable,” he said yesterday.
The charges against 10 current and former bank officers were filed under Section 16(a)(A) and Section 25(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Mohamad Ezri expressed appreciation for enforcement agencies handling the matter seriously, saying their actions send a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated.
“We will continue to act firmly and responsibly to uphold the legal profession and all the values it stands for,” he added.
Separately, the Bar Council also raised concerns over proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act that could allow political or executive interference in the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB).
Its vice-president Anand Raj warned that granting the minister in charge of law the power to appoint and remove a majority of LPQB members could compromise professional independence.
“This could create an LPQB heavily shaped by the executive while reducing the Malaysian Bar and the judiciary to a minority of just three out of 13 board positions.”
Anand also expressed concern over provisions allowing the minister to determine the pay and perks of board members, which could deplete LPQB funds and increase costs for law students.
Anand said leadership of the LPQB should remain with the Malaysian Bar, supported by balanced representation from the judiciary, qualified academics and the legal profession.
On Nov 17, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) M. Kulasegaran tabled amendments to clarify the LPQB’s status as a corporate body and empower the minister to appoint certain members.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Law Society said representation from Sabah and Sarawak on the LPQB must ensure meaningful participation.
Its president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin said members should understand the realities and needs of legal practice in the two states and be committed to upholding professional standards, rather than merely occupying seats.
“This inclusion will allow Sabah and Sarawak to participate directly in safeguarding the quality of legal education, particularly in evaluating public university law degrees and ensuring the Certificate of Legal Practice remains a rigorous and credible qualification,” he said.
Mohamed Nazim described the amendments as a “long-overdue step”, noting that entry into the Sabah Bar has been determined entirely by a board in which neither state has representation.
