Malaysian Bar

The Malaysian Bar Coat of Arms

Bar Council of Malaysia (headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian Bar (Malay: Badan Peguam Malaysia) is a professional body which regulates the profession of lawyers in peninsular Malaysia. In Malaysia, there is no distinction between a barrister and a solicitor, in that, it is a fused profession. Membership into the bar is automatic and mandatory.^[1] The bar was created under the Legal Profession Act 1976.^[2] Like other bar associations around the world, it has a wide range of functions, including, to protect the reputation of the legal profession, to uphold the cause of justice, to express its views on matters relating to legislations, and others.^[3] The bar also has powers to impose punishment against lawyers for any professional misconducts.

The management of the affairs of the Bar is undertaken by a council known as the Bar Council (Malay: Majlis Peguam).^[4] The Bar Council consists of the immediate past president and vice-president of the Malaysian Bar, the chairman and elected members of each State Bar Committees, and other elected members.^[4]

Separate bodies regulate the legal profession in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Their bar association are known as the Sabah Law Association and the Advocates' Association of Sarawak respectively.

The bar is headed by a president. As of March 2011, the president of the bar is Lim Chee Wee.

List of presidents of the Malaysian Bar

Malayan Bar (1947-1963)

• 1947-1952: E. D. Shearn
• 1953-1960: R. Ramani
• 1960-1961: Morris Edgar
• 1961-1963: R. Ramani

Malaysian Bar

• 1963-1963: Johannes Kerkorel
• 1963-1964: S. M. Yong
• 1964-1973: R. R. Chelliah
• 1973-1974: Chan Hua Eng
• 1974-1976: V. C. George
• 1976-1978: Raja Aziz Addruse
• 1978-1980: Abdullah A. Rahman
• 1980-1982: G. T. S. Sidhu
• 1982-1984: S. Sivasubaramaniam
• 1984-1986: Ronald Khoo
• 1986-1988: Param Cumaraswamy
• 1988-1989: Raja Aziz Addruse
• 1989-1991: S. Theivanthiran
• 1991-1992: Manjeet Singh Dhillon
• 1992-1993: Raja Aziz Addruse
• 1993-1995: Zainur Zakaria
• 1995-1997: Hendon Haji Abdullah
• 1997-1999: Cyrus V. Das
• 1999-2000: R. R. Chelvarajah
• 2000-2001: Haji Sulaiman Abdullah
• 2001-2003: Mah Weng Kwai
• 2003-2005: Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari
• 2005-2007: Yeo Yang Poh
• 2007-2009: Ambiga Sreenevasan
• 2009-2011: Ragunath Kesavan
• 2011-present: Lim Chee Wee

See also

• Certificate in Legal Practice (Malaysia)

References

1. ^ "Section 43. Advocate and solicitors members of the Bar". Legal Profession Act 1976. http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal_profession_act_1976/members_of_the_malaysian_bar_and_subscriptions_section_43._advocate_and_solicitors_members_of_the_bar.html. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 
2. ^ "Section 41. Establishment of Malaysian Bar". Legal Profession Act 1976. Archived from the original on 2008-01-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080125220915/http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal_profession_act_1976/part_v_-_malaysian_bar_section_41._establishment_of_malaysian_bar.html. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 
3. ^ "Section 42. Object and powers of the Bar". Legal Profession Act 1976. http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal_profession_act_1976/section_42._object_and_powers_of_the_bar.html. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Section 47. Establishment of Bar Council". Legal Profession Act 1976. http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal_profession_act_1976/the_bar_council_section_47._establishment_of_bar_council.html. Retrieved 2008-02-12. 

External links

• The Malaysian Bar Official Website