‘Address Bar Council’s funding issues’
KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act (LPA) should address funding issues faced by the Malaysian Bar Council to ensure the body upholds justice without any external interference.
The suggestion, made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, came after the Bar Council admitted that it had received a grant from the Open Society Foundations (OSF), an organisation owned by HungarianAmerican magnate George Soros, for research.
“It is time for the proposed LPA amendments to explore issues pertaining to the grant, gift, property or money received by the Bar Council. This is to ensure that the Bar Council achieves its ultimate purpose to uphold the justice without any personal interest involved and interference from external parties,” she said yesterday.
On Thursday, the Bar Council Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Seri M. Ramachelvam admitted to receiving US$15,000 (RM63,309) from OSF in January last year, as a grant for a research study on migrant workers in the country.
It was reported that InspectorGeneral of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had formed a task force to investigate OSF funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Bar Council, under Section 124C of the Penal Code.
The government had proposed changes to LPA to allow the minister in charge of legal affairs to appoint two government representatives to the Bar Council to change the Bar Council’s election process and composition, and to increase the required quorum for its general meetings.
Azalina, who is de facto law minister, while saying that it might not be legally wrong to receive foreign funds or grants, expressed worry on the “recent spike” in concern over allegedly receiving grants from OSF.
“It may not be legally wrong to receive funds or grants from foreign donors as there are no restrictions or special rules regarding foreign funding.
“Currently, the only obligation is to report suspicious transactions to the relevant authority.”
She said it was timely for the Societies Act 1966 to be redefined by including the reporting procedure on donations received by organisations.
She said this was to ensure sound governance, accountability and transparency.