‘Legal Year’ procession in Kuching set to host 500 lawyers, judicial officers from Sarawak, Sabah
KUCHING: Some 500 lawyers from Sabah and Sarawak are expected to take part in the ‘Legal Year 2020’ procession, set to be held here this Jan 17.
The Advocates Association Sarawak (AAS) Kuching branch will host the event, which serves to commemorate the opening of the new legal year.
“We hope to get 400 to 500 lawyers to attend the procession and also the gala dinner in the evening.
“I think last year, there were about 500 lawyers attending the event in Kota Kinabalu – we expect about the same number for this year,” AAS Kuching chairman Desmond Sahathevan told reporters after leading his committee for a courtesy call on
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Scheduled to kick off at 7am, the procession – themed ‘Justice and Beyond’ – would have participants marching from the new Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Complex to the nearby Kuching Court Complex, said Sahathevan.
After the procession, there would be the official court ceremony.
“Our guests at the ‘Legal Year’ ceremony will include representatives of foreign bars and international advocate associations.
“Before the Legal Year event, there will be a national colloquium on ‘Excess to Justice’ this Jan 16, organised under the United Nations Development Programme,” said Sahathevan.
On the courtesy call, he said it was meant for the association to express its appreciation to Abang Johari and also to formally invite him to the gala dinner, themed ‘Masquerade Ball’.
“As Kuching is the host, we have sought for the assistance from the Sarawak government, which has given its support for a gala dinner, where the Chief Minister will be our guest-of-honour,” he said.
According to Sahathevan, the AAS has about 600 members – about 500 of whom are members of AAS Kuching.
Moreover, there are about 900 practising lawyers in Sarawak, he added.