CON TE NT - The Kuala Lumpur Bar

Transcription

28-34 Continuing Legal Education
35-36 Conveyancing Practice
37-39 Civil Court Liaison
40-42 Criminal Practice
43-45 Environmental Law
46-48 Information Technology
49 Publications
50-54 Pupils Welfare
55-56 Social, Arts & Culture
57-60 Sports
61-66 Young lawyers
67-92 Legal Aid
93-97 Laporan Pengerusi
98-99 Laporan Sekretariat
100-166 Laporan - Laporan Jawatankuasa Kecil
100-105 Pendidikan Undang-Undang Lanjutan
106-107 Amalan Konveyansing 108-110 Perhubungan Mahkamah Sivil
111-114 Amalan Jenayah
115-117 Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar
118-120 Teknologi Maklumat
121-122 Penerbitan
123-125 Hal Ehwal Pelatih Dalam Kamar
126-127 Sosial, Kesenian & Kebudayaan
128-130 Sukan
131-136 Peguam Muda
137-166 Bantuan Guaman
167-178 Audited Accounts for the year ending
31st December 2007
CONTENT
1
Agenda
2-20 Minutes of the 15th Annual General Meeting of
the Kuala Lumpur Bar held on 12th February 2007
21-25 Chairman’s Report
26-27 Secretariat Report
28-92 Reports of Sub-Committees
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Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee
16TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Kuala Lumpur Bar to be
held on Thursday 21st February 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the
Grand Ballroom, The Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
AGENDA
1
To confirm and adopt the minutes of the 15th Annual General Meeting held on 12th February
2007.
2
Matters arising.
3
To consider, and if thought fit, to adopt the Annual Report 2007/08.
4
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the Audited Accounts for the year ending
31st December 2007.
5
To fix subscription for the year 2008.
6
To elect the Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee for 2008/09.
7
To elect ten (10) members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee for 2008/09.
8
To elect one (1) member to represent the Kuala Lumpur Bar on the Bar Council for
2008/09.
9
General.
ANAND PONNUDURAI
HON SECRETARY
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AGENDA
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15TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
KUALA LUMPUR BAR
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE KUALA
LUMPUR BAR HELD ON 12TH FEBRUARY 2007 AT 2.00 P.M. AT THE
GRAND BALLROOM, GRAND SEASONS HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR.
Lim Chee Wee, as Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee, chaired this meeting and called
the meeting to order at 2.25 p.m. He then requested all members to rise and observe one-minute
silence in memory of the following members who passed away during the year under review:
1
2
3
4
Anandan Ganesan
Phang Ah Hee
David Chai Kai Wooi
Lim Chor Pee
ITEM 1 OF AGENDA: To confirm and adopt the minutes of the 14th Annual General
Meeting held on 9th March 2006
The minutes were confirmed and adopted as proposed by Jagjit Singh and seconded by S.S. Muker.
ITEM 2 OF AGENDA: Matters arising
Nil.
ITEM 3 OF AGENDA: To consider, and if thought fit, to adopt the Annual Report
2006/07
3.1
The Chairman pointed out that there was an error on page 26 under “Full Programme”.
The moderator for the Criminal Advocacy Workshop was Balvinder Singh and not Balbir Singh.
3.2
The Chairman then took the Meeting through the Annual Report 2006/07 (pages18 to 85).
3.3
Page 38 – Environmental Law Committee
3.3.1 GK Ganesan referred to the statement under the second subtitle entitled “Energy Audit”
that there would be an energy audit carried out in January 2007 and said that could
not be done. He thus would like to respectfully ask that the said item on the “Energy
Audit” be excised and that the report on the activities of the Environmental Law
Committee (“ELC”) be read with that amendment.
3.3.2
Haji Sulaiman pointed out that Malaysia in particular Kuala Lumpur faces a lot of
environmental problems. He requested the ELC Chair to enlighten the House as to
what exactly the ELC had done, in the year of its existence, to help the country in
respect of the environment.
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3.3.2.1 GK Ganesan explained that the ELC was a process-based and not result-based
committee. There was a process that had been put in place for a number of years.
Many people had worked in this committee before him. Stanley Sinnappen who was
the Chair before he took over had embarked on 14 different issues, some of which
were pending. What the ELC had done this term was to continue with those
pending programmes and introduce one or two new ones. He then proceeded to
brief the meeting on the various projects that were carried out by the ELC this term
as reported in the Annual Report (pages 38 and 39). He said that the merit of the
ELC did not in fact lie with him. He merely steered it. There were many people some
of whom had left because of other commitments but all had given a great deal of
their time and he would like to thank them all for it.
3.4
Page 21, right-hand column, item (III) - The Current State of the Bar
3.4.1 Kanesalingam referred to the Chairman’s report on the current state of the
Bar in page 21 where he stated, “This term has been a tumultuous term in
the Malaysian Bar with the last Extraordinary General Meeting on 16 November
2006 deliberating on a Motion of No Confidence against 6 Council members and
the fiasco over the postal ballot elections. The present state of affairs is sad and
shameful.” He said that the Chairman had used very strong words but members
were at a lost as to what all that meant, “the fiasco over the ballot elections… the
present state of affairs is sad and shameful”. Members already knew something that
they read in the newspaper or what was talked of in the clubs, in the pubs and in
the coffee shops but he would like the Chairman who is also a member of the Bar
Council to enlighten members on what that was all about.
3.4.2 The Chairman said that the phrase, “sad and shameful” referred to the forged ballot papers. 3.4.3 Kanesalingam said that he did not know that the ballot papers were forged
and asked the Chairman to enlighten the House on that.
3.4.4 The Chairman said that was what the scrutineers in their report alleged.
3.4.5 Kanesalingam said that he could not find the scrutineers’ report anywhere at
this meeting. He pointed out that members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar only read what
was reported in the Annual Report and sometimes in the newspaper but perhaps as
the KL Bar’s representative to the Bar Council, the Chairman could enlighten members
present on the meaning of the expression, “fiasco over the ballot elections”.
3.4.6 The Chairman said that as indicated earlier, he was referring to the 50 forged ballot
papers. This was unprecedented in the Malaysian Bar history and the matter had
gone to the press. It was used by the Minister in charge of legal affairs to criticise
the Malaysian Bar. It had also affected the Bar’s credibility to the public at large. That was what he meant by, “this is a sad and shameful state of affairs for us”.
3.4.7 Kanesalingam thanked the Chairman and said that he wanted facts and not comments.
He commented that perhaps the Chairman had assumed that it was all public knowledge,
that it was in the public domain. The Chairman had not elaborated on the 50 forged
ballot papers; what was wrong with them. He told the Chairman that he had to tell
members the facts and not asked them to read the newspaper and find out what
that was all about; the calling for nominations, ballots and postal ballots that came
in, the appointment of scrutineers, who were the scrutineers and what did they do
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and what did they find. Those, he stressed, were the facts that members would
want to know.
3.4.8 The Chairman briefed that on Friday, he believed it was the first Friday of December,
the 3 scrutineers counted the ballot papers and they were unable to declare the
results and the reason being that they had discovered 50 forged ballot papers
where the numbers on the ballot papers did not match or in fact were greater in the
numbering than the ballot papers issued by the Malaysian Bar. Arising from that, the
scrutineers then declared the elections to be null and void. He said that was the first
time that such an incident had happened in the Malaysian Bar and to him such a state
of affairs was shameful and embarrassing. The Bar had lost credibility in the eyes
of the public on that issue. He certainly hoped that the issue would be resolved as
soon as possible. He then told Kanesalingam that he would be coming to his motion
a little later, after the Annual Report.
3.4.9 Kanesalingam said that he had not moved any motion yet. He felt that the Chairman
had not given sufficient facts and asked whether the scrutineers had found 50 ballot
papers that were forged. The Chairman replied in the affirmative.
3.4.10 Kanesalingam further requested the Chairman to brief the Meeting on what happened
after that. He said he wanted it from the Chairman who was the KL Bar’s representative
on the Bar Council and not rely on newspaper reporters to provide the information.
3.4.11 The Chairman said that on Saturday, the Bar Council met and deliberated on the
issue without the candidates who stood for the postal ballot election and requested
the scrutineers to re-count each and every ballot paper and to verify the authenticity
of the ballot papers counted.
3.4.12 S.I. Rajah asked, on a point of order, if he could interrupt. He said that he was a
very senior member of the Bar in this country. He felt that it was not fair on the
Chairman’s part to relate those facts to the last speaker because he himself was a
litigant. The matter was sub judice and if the Chairman went further it would tantamount
to be contempt. He therefore would strictly advise the Chairman not to relate any
material or any facts whatsoever as the matter was already pending in Court.
3.4.13 Kanesalingam said that he was not a litigant and that he is a member of the Kuala
Lumpur Bar and the Malaysian Bar and wanted the Chairman to answer him.
3.4.14 The Chairman noted S.I. Rajah’s comment and said that he had thought about
it and felt that what he had to say would not amount to contempt of Court because
he was not going to prejudge the legal issues which were pending before Y.A. Datuk
Gengadharan. He said that he was merely stating the facts which were in the Court
papers. He then went on to say that on Saturday, the Bar Council deliberated without
the candidates who stood for the ballot election and as indicated earlier, the Bar
Council requested the scrutineers to verify each and every ballot paper to ascertain
its authenticity. On Sunday, a police report was lodged. On Monday, the scrutineers
went back to the Secretariat and decided that they would not do so unless there
was a Court Order and he believed that sometime later that week, Foo Ton Hin filed
an OS in Court seeking various reliefs, one of which was for the scrutineers to verify
each and every ballot paper and declare the results, in the alternative for an international
accounting firm to be appointed to do the job.
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3.4.15 Kanesalingam thanked the Chairman for the information and pointed out that it would
now appear that 50 ballot papers were found to have been forged. He asked why
were the scrutineers refusing to count the balance ballot papers and whether any reason
had been given to the President of the Malaysian Bar or the Malaysian Bar Council.
3.4.16 The Chairman felt that it was best for the members of the Bar to hear it from the scrutineers
if they wish to explain themselves. Otherwise the House had to be careful when
touching on this issue because it may be contempt of Court if the House was to
publicly question the motives or the reasons behind the scrutineers not wanting to
count the ballot papers.
3.4.17 Kanesalingam remarked that according to the newspaper, Foo Ton Hin had raised
the matter in the High Court and the persons against whom he had raised it had said
that he had no locus standi and here he was raising questions and was told that he
might be in contempt of Court. He thus wondered if the scrutineers were immune.
3.4.18 The Chairman said that he just had to be careful that the members do not question
the motives of the scrutineers.
3.4.19 Kanesalingam commented that firstly, the Chairman had told the House that there was
an invitation for nominations and postal ballots were sent by all members of the
Malaysian Bar. The Chairman had also told the House that there were scrutineers
but did not indicate how many scrutineers there were. He assumed there were
3 because the newspaper said so. Out of the 3, one of them was now refusing to
count the ballot papers. He would like to point out that any refusal to count the
votes will have a very serious effect on the Malaysian Bar because the Bar cannot
function without a Bar Council and it cannot have 22 members in the Bar Council
without the 12.
3.4.20 Chew Swee Yoke raised a point of order. She said that it was very clear that the speaker
was embarking into territory which was definitely sub judice. She felt that the Chairman
should exercise better control of the meeting and requested him to move on as the
speaker had already been speaking for at least 15 minutes. 3.4.21 Kanesalingam felt that the speaker did not want anybody to talk and just wanted
to do as she pleased and not bothered about the Malaysian Bar. He then continued
to speak questioning the scrutineers’ refusal to count the votes. He said that the
Legal Profession Act stipulates that the scrutineers shall count. Thus, if they do not
count they are in breach of statutory duty and for breach of statutory duty, the Bar
can claim damages.
3.4.22 Chew Swee Yoke again requested the Chairman to exercise some control. She said that the conversation appeared to be more like a conversation than anything else
and should not be allowed to continue otherwise he (the Chairman) could be condoning
contempt of Court. She then requested the Chairman to move on.
3.4.23 The Chairman said that he had considered the issue when he received Kanesalingam’s
motion and would like to rule on it. He then ruled in favour of debate within certain
parameters; no member can question or denigrate or insult the motives or the integrity
of the scrutineers and no debate on the issues pending in Court and the authority
for that is the Attorney General v The Times Newspapers [1974] AC 273 (HL). He
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He felt that there was nothing wrong for the House to say, “can we at least urge the
scrutineers to count the votes” and did not think that was in contempt of Court.
3.4.24 Chew Swee Yoke felt that the Chairman was playing with words because Kanesalingam’s
criticism of why the scrutineers were not doing what they were supposed to do was
the very subject of the Court Action.
3.4.25 The Chairman agreed with Chew Swee Yoke and requested Kanesalingam to limit his
comments.
3.4.26 Kanesalingam said that he would do so. He then urged the scrutineers to count
the good votes and to co-operate with the President of the Malaysian Bar and the
Bar Council. He added that he would like the mood of this House to be recorded
in the Annual Report and the Annual Report be amended accordingly and the
Report be referred to the Bar Council for their further action. He thus would like
to propose in the form of a motion that this House urges the scrutineers and the
other members of the Bar involved in the current Court Action to co-operate with the
President of the Malaysian Bar and the Bar Council. He would like to further move
that this House urges each and every one of the scrutineers to complete the task
undertaken by them as a scrutineer for the elections to the Bar Council for 2007/08
and complete the counting of the votes.
3.4.27 The Chairman said that he was afraid that he could not allow Kanesalingam to put
that motion to the House because the motion that he did propose on Wednesday
was out of time. He thus ruled that the motion would not be put to the vote but the
House could express its views on the sentiments expressed by Kanesalingam.
3.4.28 Kanesalingam pointed out that he was commenting on the Chairman’s Annual Report
on page 21. That, he said, was on the agenda and he need not have to give notice
of motion to propose the Annual Report to be passed. That was only for other things
which were not in the agenda. The fiasco of the ballot papers was in the agenda and
he could speak about it and this House could make its own suggestion otherwise
the Annual Report should be rejected.
3.4.29 The Chairman told Kanesalingam that what he had just proposed tantamount to putting
forward a motion to the House and that could not be done. He said that when the
House considers and adopts the Annual Report, members could certainly comment
on the statements made in the Annual Report and the mood of the House could be
recorded as such but not to be put to the vote.
3.4.30 Kanesalingam said that he would leave it to the Chair to record the mood of the
House in whatever way the Chair thought possible.
3.4.31 The Chairman opened the matter up to the floor for their views. He asked if members
were in favour of the views expressed by Kanesalingam.
3.4.32 Dinesh Kanavaji asked the Chairman if it was true that the scrutineers’ report was
published to all members of the Bar. The Chairman replied in the affirmative.
3.4.33 Dinesh Kanavaji further asked if it was true that the scrutineers did say in their
report that they were unable to ascertain whether there was any other forged ballot.
The Chairman replied in the affirmative.
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3.4.34 Dinesh Kanavaji felt that the last speaker was trying to put his motion through a back
door and that should be rejected because the crux of the matter was still before the
Court and should be left to the Court to decide.
3.4.35 Fahri Azzat said that he fully supported the sentiments that Kanesalingam had proposed
in his motion. He felt that the scrutineers’ report although they were competent as
far as fact finding was concerned, their recommendation has no basis to it.
3.4.36 Haji Sulaiman said that the way he had understood Kanesalingam was that he was
proposing that the Annual Report be accepted with the amendment that he had
proposed. He therefore saw no reason why Kanesalingam had to give any notice
of that. The item was to adopt the Annual Report and there was nothing wrong with
Kanesalingam saying that he would agree to accept the Annual Report provided the
further bit be added.
3.4.37 Chew Swee Yoke said that she just wanted to comment on the current state of the
Bar. She pointed out to the Chairman that he had mentioned the fiasco but why
had he not also mentioned the fiasco of the LPA Amendments which had led to the
first EGM. She asked why there was complete silence on that issue and should not
it be also mentioned to make the Annual Report a balanced report.
3.4.38 The Chairman told Chew Swee Yoke that he would take note of that. He then referred
to the point raised by Haji Sulaiman and said that in so far as the adoption of the
Annual Report, members could comment on it or if there were mistakes or
corrections to be made, that could be done. But what Kanesalingam was proposing
tantamount to having an addendum to the Annual Report by way of a motion to
be passed at this AGM. He asked if members have any views on the point raised
by Haji Sulaiman.
3.4.39 Sivarasa said that he just wanted to check something which the Chairman had just
said to make sure that he had understood it correctly. He believed that Kanesalingam
had a motion in relation to the subject matter and would like to know if it would be
discussed at the appropriate time in the meeting.
3.4.40 The Chairman said that he was considering dealing with it after the adoption of the
Annual Report. However, he would like to make it clear that the Committee had discussed
the motion and was of the view that because it was out of time, it could not be put to
the floor to vote unless the House by unanimous consent desires to vote on it.
3.4.41 Sivarasa said that at this moment his concern was whether the motion would be discussed.
He pointed out that there were two parts to it. One was a discussion of the motion and
two was the question of whether the House would actually vote on it and that the
House could also discuss it. He just wanted to be assured that there would be a
discussion when the motion comes up.
3.4.42 The Chairman assured Sivarasa that he would let the House discuss the motion
when he comes to it and said that he would like to move on to the next issue in the
Annual Report where he had a few issues to highlight to members. He referred to the
issue of the New Court Complex in the Chairman’s report (page 21) which was of great
concern to all the litigation lawyers in Kuala Lumpur. He said that the Committee
had a number of meetings with the relevant authorities and had also had a working visit
to the new Court Complex. There were two major issues that was of grave concern to
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the Committee, the first issue was the lack of public transportation and the second
issue was the inadequate parking places. There were only 400 car parks available
to the public and lawyers which was highly insufficient given that all the Courts in
Kuala Lumpur were moving to the new Court Complex. The Committee had written to
the Registrar of the High Court and the Acting Chief Registrar raising those concerns
and is awaiting their response. In the meantime, the Committee had the Court’s
permission to inform members that tentatively the Courts would be moving in the
first week of May. It had yet to be confirmed in writing and once the Court confirms it
in writing, he was certain that the incoming Committee would notify members accordingly.
3.4.43 The Chairman said that the next issue that he would like to report on was not in the Annual
Report. It was in respect of two Judges where members had raised certain concerns
in terms of judicial temperament and striking out of cases. One of them was quite
receptive when the Committee spoke to him. In so far as the other Judge was
concerned, if any member was going to be late in his Court (D2), he/she had to call
ahead to stand down the matter otherwise it would be struck out. He requested
members to take note of the same.
3.4.44 The Chairman said that another issue that he would like to highlight was the legal aid
investigation. The panel of 3 who were appointed to investigate the various
allegations against the KL LAC had found the allegations to be untrue. This was
reported in the Chairman’s report and the LAC’s report. There were some issues
raised by the Panel but those issues were being resolved at the NLAC level.
3.5
The Annual Report 2006/07 was considered and adopted as proposed by M. Puravalen and seconded
by Kali Dass.
I
Motion proposed by A. Kanesalingam
I.1
The Chairman said that the Motion was not distributed because it was received out of time.
However, members could view it on the screen.
I.2
Dinesh Kanavaji raised a point of order. He asked if the House was going to discuss the motion
and vote on it.
I.3
The Chairman replied in the negative and said that he would like to announce the Committee’s
decision on it first. He said the motion was received by the Committee on 07.02.2007 at
about 4.30 p.m. Under S.70 para 2c, it was out of time because it was not submitted within
7 clear days before the date of the AGM. The Committee therefore decided that it could not
be put to the House to be voted upon unless this House by unanimous consent agreed to
have it voted upon.
I.4
Kanesalingam was of the opinion that he had to give notice to the Bar Committee and not the House.
He felt that the Committee’s decision to get the unanimous consent of the House was not
proper. If the Bar Committee were to give a unanimous consent, time could be waived because
once the Committee received a notice from a member, the Committee was to circulate it to
other members who would only receive it at the day of the meeting. Further, at the time
he gave the notice to the Bar Committee, he had e-mailed it to all the other members who
were on the website. Therefore, nobody was prejudiced. He believed members were aware
of the issues.
I.5
Tommy Thomas asked what was the basis of the decision of the KLBC that unanimous consent
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must be given by the floor to waive time. He said that he may be wrong but a quick review of
the Act seemed to suggest that the Act was silent. He therefore needed to know the basis
of the Committee’s decision.
I.6
The Chairman said that he consulted Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang on the issue and that was his
verbal advice to the Committee.
I.7
Tommy Thomas asked what authority was Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang relying on when giving
his opinion.
I.8
Kanesalingam believed that Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang was relying on the Law of Meetings which
he too was aware of. He explained that if there was insufficient notice, for example the Annual
Report must be given to members 14 days before the AGM but members did not get it 14
days before the AGM and no one complained; members therefore were unanimously
accepting it. That was the basis. He argued that in his case, the principle had been incorrectly
applied. He said that the inadequacy of the notice in the Act must be properly understood.
The Committee has the right to reject it but to ask the House to endorse it was not regular.
I.9
Chew Swee Yoke felt that it was a waste of time arguing the issue of the short notice. She pointed
out that the Act is clear and proceeded to read the section in the Amended Bill. However, she
referred to the wrong section and the Chairman pointed out that the correct section was
S.70(2c). He then read it out, “If any member desires to propose any motion to be considered
at an annual general meeting convened under this section, he shall, not less than seven
days before the date first appointed for holding the meeting, serve on the Secretary of the
State Bar a notice of such motion in writing”. He stressed that it was not in dispute that
Kanesalingam’s motion fell foul of para 2c. He then invited views from the floor on whether
members would still want to vote on the motion notwithstanding the short notice.
I.10
When asked by Chew Swee Yoke, the Chairman agreed that there was short notice. He said the Committee deliberated on the matter and was of the view that there was short notice
and thus was not putting the motion to the House.
I.11
Tommy Thomas said now that he knew that there was no source for the opinion, he would
like to share as to what happened, starting with the Van Buerle case which went up to the
Federal Court where leave was denied. He said that in the Van Buerle case, the question
was, “Can the Malaysian Bar hold their AGM without the 1/5 quorum under the old law?”
He disclosed his interest stating that he was one of the lawyers for the Malaysian Bar. He
pointed out that one of their arguments was that if the Court held it against the Malaysian
Bar then it would have crossed the 31st March date. Section 64 or 65 says that the Malaysian
Bar must have its AGM before the 1st day of April. Their argument was anything that the
Court does would be outside time. The argument essentially was that time was critical.
None of the Courts placed any weight to it. As far as the Courts were concerned, time was
not a factor. In the present case, Mr Foo Ton Hin whom he was representing, once again
he was disclosing his interest but this time he was on the other side; he did not believe for a
minute that as a litigant the House could not be discussing it. He said that so long as no
attributions were made and no indication of what the Judge ought to do, the matter could
be discussed. What the Court was going to do was something else and that was for the
Court to worry about. He pointed out that members of the Bar were the litigants and for
him, he was wearing many hats; he was Counsel for the plaintiff but also a member of the
Bar and certainly he was entitled to talk about the issue with his fellow litigants. The point
about that case was time was a factor because everyone knew that balloting ended on 30th
November and the results must be announced on 1st December and the Bar was well out
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of time. It was common ground on both sides of the fence that any order made by the Court
was going to be well out of time. He had given those 2 examples to show members of the
floor that time in the Legal Profession Act had been totally disregarded by the Courts and by
the parties. In that context the 7 days notice could also be disregarded. Time did not mean
anything in the Legal Profession Act.
10
I.12
S.I. Rajah pointed out to the Chairman that he (the Chairman) had just decided categorically
and without any doubt that the motion submitted to the Committee was out of time. If that
was so, why then the haggling and wasting of time on the issue. If the Committee had
rightfully made the decision and exercised its powers, then leave it open to the general
assembly here which could overrule the decision and that was all. Why go beating about
the bush? He said that he was coming here after a lapse of 18 years of his practice and
felt totally disgusted seeing all these kinds of nonsense going on. He felt his 39 years of
practice were being wasted seeing such a state of affair. He requested the Chairman to put
a stop at that very point he said out of time and proceed with the next agenda where there
were more important matters to attend to. Otherwise he was going to leave.
I.13
The Chairman said that although the Committee may have made its decision, it had to invite
views from the floor because the Committee could be wrong and the mood of the floor may
be such that the House might still want the motion to be put to the floor. He would not, as
Chair, stifle discussions or freedom of speech. He told S.I. Rajah that he would not apologise
that he had found it disgusting but that is the freedom of speech.
I.14
Dinesh Kanavaji speaking against the motion being heard pointed out that the Act uses the
word “shall”, “shall give 7 days notice” and Kanesalingam’s motion did not give 7 days
notice. The word “shall” is a mandatory requirement and if this House proceeds to hear the
motion, it would be ultra vires the Act. I.15
Chris Leong said that his view was different from the view of Kanesalingam and the Chairman’s
view. He believed that a motion that has been put in out of time cannot be tabled formerly
before this meeting with the unanimous decision of those present. Section 70(2c) says
that a motion must be submitted to the Secretary 7 days prior to the date first fixed for the
meeting. That apparently was not complied with. It does not go on to provide what happens
thereafter namely what the Secretary does with it. But he believed through convention, what
the Secretary does with it is that he or she sends out notice of that motion to all members
who are entitled to receive notice of that motion. The purpose of a motion to be sent in to
the Secretary is to put members on notice that an issue affecting the interest of the Bar
will be put for discussion at the meeting. Notice thus must be given to all and not just those
present at the meeting. Members being notified of the issue may decide to attend the meeting
for the purpose of discussing and voting on the issue.
I.16
Kanesalingam said that his notice was given to the Secretary and it was for the Secretary
to accept or reject the motion.
I.17
The Chairman reiterated that the Committee was not putting the motion to the House
unless the House unanimously decides otherwise.
I.18
Sivarasa said that he had stood up earlier and was told that the Meeting would discuss
the motion though it would not vote on it and he would like to hear Kanesalingam first.
I.19
Kanesalingam said that there was no contempt because the Malaysian Bar was a party to
it. Litigants can talk about it. They can talk to the scrutineers and urge them to count the
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votes. The Bar is not asking for punitive action to be taken. It merely wants to urge the
scrutineers to co-operate with the President of the Malaysian Bar and the Bar Council to
complete the counting of the votes.
I.20
Kanawagi felt that this subject should be raised at the AGM of the Malaysian Bar and not at
this forum. He said that not all the scrutineers were here and other State Bars too were not
here. He did not think that the scrutineers should answer to this House. They should only
answer to the Malaysian Bar.
I.21
Sivarasa felt that sub judice and contempt should not be cited to curtail the discussion of this
subject. He would like to state very clearly that it is highly appropriate for this House to
discuss this issue. If a Judge can be influenced by what someone says, that Judge should
resign. He could not understand why members of the Bar were standing up here at this
meeting and saying that this Meeting cannot talk about this and that issue. This was a total
disrespect to the Judge hearing the case. We are insulting his intelligence saying that he
is going to be influenced by what we say. That, he pointed out, is the doctrine of sub judice
and it is not to be abused. If you are going to threaten your witness, if you are going to put
a picket in front of a Judge’s house; that may well be sub judice; that may well infringe into
the realm’s of contempt but certainly not temperate civil discussions in public and he was
not just talking about this meeting, he was talking about discussion in public and in the
newspaper as well. We can make statements about the scrutineers and what we think as
long as it is done in temperate language. Why should that be contempt in any form? He
was sorry he was going to say again that it was extremely unfortunate that we have learned
members of the Bar coming to our own meeting and telling us that we cannot discuss these
things. To wrap up, it was unfortunate that Kanesalingam had put in his motion perhaps a day
late and perhaps we are bound by the fetters of the law in that sense but that should not
stop us from saying exactly what we think about the motion and hopefully the scrutineers
would take note of what we say and accord accordingly.
I.22
The Chairman said that the Committee would take note of the various statements made on
this issue and if there were no other speakers, he would like to draw the matter to a conclusion
and move on with the meeting. ITEM 4 OF AGENDA: To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the Audited Accounts for the
year ending 31st December 2006
4.1
The Chairman said that he had a few issues to highlight. Firstly, he was pleased to report that
there was again a surplus this year of RM52,695. Secondly, members should take note
that salaries would keep increasing as could be seen in page 157 under “Less: Expenditure”,
salaries, bonus and allowances had gone up by about RM16,000. Rental is also on the rise.
The Committee did for the last 2 years attempt to look for its own premises and the closest
that the Committee came to was Solaris Dutamas but it was too expensive. Based on the
current subscriptions received by the Committee, it would not be able to afford the same. The Committee had thus put on hold the idea of purchasing its own premises and hoping
that the Bar Council with more funds would be able to buy a premises and the KLBC Secretariat
could move with the Bar Council.
4.2
The Audited Accounts were approved and passed as proposed by Dinesh and
seconded by Chandran.
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ITEM 5 OF AGENDA: To fix subscription for the year 2007
5.1
The Chairman said that there was no financial reason why the subscription should be
increased. The Committee therefore is recommending that the subscription remains at
RM100.00.
5.2
The Meeting unanimously agreed that the subscription for the year 2007 remains at RM100.00.
ITEM 6 OF AGENDA: To elect the Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee for 2007/08
12
6.1
The following names were proposed and seconded:-
1
Colin Andrew Pereira
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Datin Isharidah Ishak
Edmund Bon
2
R. Ravindra Kumar
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Raja Aziz Addruse
Nahendran Navaratnam
3
GK Ganesan
Proposer
Seconder
Jagjit Singh
Hendon Haji Mohamed
6.2
Kuhanandan raised a point of order. He said that in the previous election, a neutral Chairman
was appointed to take conduct of the election and felt that the practice should be followed.
6.3
The Chairman said that there was no necessity to appoint a neutral Chairman as he was not
standing for election. He pointed out that under the Legal Profession Act, the State Bar
Chairman chairs the AGM unless he is unable to. He however was still able to chair this meeting.
6.4
Nominations were closed. The Chairman invited the 3 candidates to each say a few words.
6.5
Colin Andrew Pereira introduced himself and said that he had served the KLBC for 5 years
under 4 different Chairmen, Zainudin Ismail, Ragunath Kesavan, Jerald Gomez and the
current Chairman, Lim Chee Wee. During the 5 years, he had chaired the Social & Pupils
Welfare Committee, the Conveyancing Practice Committee and the Continuing Legal Education
Committee. He had also served on the Court Liaison Committee as well as a number of
Committees on the Bar Council. He was offering himself as a candidate for the Chair of
the Kuala Lumpur Bar as he believed that in the last 5 years, he had gained the necessary
experience to lead the KL Bar. He said that firstly the CLE programme had been extremely
successful in the last one year attracting over 4,000 participants and close to 50 speakers. If
elected, he proposes to enhance the current CLE programme to include more seminars on
specialised areas of law, practical workshops and to draw on the resources of other professional
bodies. He further proposes to establish a practice management committee to assist
members in matters relating to insurance coverage, risk management, business development
and planning and to assist members who wish to set up their own legal practice. Secondly,
he proposes to establish an ad hoc committee on the relocation of the Courts to deal
with the anticipated problems that would arise when the Courts moved to the new premises
in Jalan Duta. Although the Courts would only be moving in a few months time, he believed
that such problems ought to be addressed and dealt with as soon as possible. Thirdly,
despite the amendment to S.46A of the Legal Profession Act, he proposes to retain the
:
:
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Young Lawyers Committee which has during the last 2 years been an extremely dynamic
committee and played an important role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the
younger members of the KL Bar. Finally, the last one year had been an extremely difficult one
for the Bar and he assured every member of the KL Bar that if elected, he would do everything
within his ability to make 2007 the year to focus on closing ranks and moving forward and
ensuring that the Bar remains a credible voice in the eyes of the public. He requested
members for their support based on his track record the last 5 years and an opportunity to
serve as their Chair for the coming year and to judge his performance at the next AGM.
6.6
R. Ravindra Kumar believed that the best speeches always come from the heart and that was
exactly what he intended to do this afternoon. He has had the honour and privilege of
serving the KLBC for the last 4 terms. In those 4 terms, he had served on the Court Liaison
Committee and in the last 2 terms he was entrusted by the KLBC Chairman to be the Honorary
Secretary as well as to spearhead the Court Liaison Committee. His service towards the
Bar had always been given with the intention of providing practical solution for all legal
practitioners. Perhaps what he considered the single most important achievement by the
Committee during his term of service was the strengthening of its relationship with the
Judiciary. The new challenges for the Committee were certainly the new Court Complex.
One grave concern is the parking problem. The Committee had taken the issue up with the
Judiciary with the view of obtaining for our members a moratorium on the striking out of
cases during the move. This had been positively received by the Judiciary. He had also
noticed, in the course of the year, that the young lawyers had come out in a big way
in making the KLBC look good especially with the leadership of Richard Wee. Members
could read of their activities in the report under the Young Lawyers Committee. If elected
as Chairman, he proposes to give young lawyers a voice because he firmly believes that they
are going to be the leaders in the future and they probably have a lot more energy to carry
out the various activities. The administration of justice certainly was his priority and at the
same time to also serve the community and clearly the young lawyers had shown the way
in getting involved with various charitable organisations. His proposal was to ensure that
there is a Young Lawyers Committee. He would further propose that there be a minimum of 3
young lawyers in each sub-committee. Young lawyers had often been an issue for discussion
at meetings with the Judiciary. The Judiciary had always chided young lawyers for being ill
prepared. He had often taken it upon himself to ensure that the young lawyers were treated
fairly. There had been cases of young lawyers being treated badly by the Court staff and
for the first time a circular was issued by the head of the Commercial Division advising the
Court staff to be polite to lawyers. This had never happened before and it spoke volume
for the Committee’s good relationship with the Judiciary. He had seen the good work that
Colin had done in the CLE programme. He personally believed that the Committee should have a
more focus CLE programme with greater emphasis on trainings and workshops for the
young lawyers. He believed that the senior lawyers have been around for a very long time
and seeing that the needs of the young lawyers were different, the Committee should focus
on such training programmes. As far as the environment was concerned, he would leave it
to GK to attend to that. He had served the Committee and he is ready to take on the role
of the Chair of the KLBC. He had also with great difficulties spoken to his wife about it.
Although she did not appear to have any serious objections, she was convinced that all the
time that he had spent for the KL Bar he was actually at a social club function. He had no
doubt that if chosen, he would as he had always done, put his heart and soul in serving the
interest of members. His motives were beyond reproach and he hoped that members would
agree that he is the man for the job.
6.7
GK said that whatever may be the results of this election, Colin and Ravindra Kumar are his
friends and he would continue to serve the KL Bar. There has been an impressive list of
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committees that his learned friends had served in. He has no great claim to fame. He had
merely headed the Environmental Law Committee and been the sub-editor of the newsletter
of the KLBC. He had sat for sometime in the Company Law Revision Committee of the
Bar Council which was an excellent experience but he believed he came to the fore in
the course of this year because of the LPA Amendments. He had stood his ground under
tremendous pressure and many members had come forward and endorsed that stand in
August last year. He believed he must continue to lead the KL Bar if he were to see a proper
finish to those amendments that members had so labouriously given their support to. His
fear was when he leaves it would just die a natural death and he intends to see the issue to
its end. There were many issues that the Committee faces today. There were many issues
that the Bar does not like to talk about. He would like, for example, to have more voice given
to those who are Peguam Syarie. So far, they have not been featured prominently in all
discussions. He would like to draw them into the KLBC. Further, there were issues relating
to Article 11 and Article 121(A); issues relating to the judicial administration; issues relating
to the 427 parking lots for the 45 Courts at the new Court Complex where 6,000 lawyers
were going to park and other major headaches when the Court move to Jalan Duta. He was
also concerned about the many custodial death which is becoming a serious problem. The
Committee is not only concern with the problems that it faces but what it can do with its
influence to deal with issues outside the Committee. He has the strength, the motivation
and energy, and certainly the focus. He gives his commitment and is prepared to set aside
one year for the KL Bar to do what is necessary to be done. Above all those issues, there is
one issue that bothers him the most. The Bar has become a society that has become used
to “strafing” and in-fighting. If there is anything that he would like to do, he would like to
unite the Bar so that the Bar would become what it was before. He said that it is all in the
hands of the members and hoped that members would vote for him.
6.8
Voting by secret ballot took place. The Chairman said that pupils were not entitled to vote.
ITEM 7 OF AGENDA: To elect ten (10) members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee for
2007/08
14
7.1
1
Anand Ponnudurai
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Christopher Leong
Alex De Silva
2
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Ranjit Singh
Christopher Leong
3
Abdul Rashid Ismail
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
R Ravindra Kumar
Zulkifli Tanabalan
4
N. Sivananthan
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Abd Shukor bin Ahmad
5
Richard Wee Thiam Seng
Proposer
:
Fahri Azzat
Seconder
:
Nik Elin Zurina
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6
Dipendra Harshad Rai
Proposer
:
Amer Hamzah
Seconder
:
Puteri Shehnaz
7
Annou Xavier
Proposer
Seconder
8
Brendan Navin Siva
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Lambert Rasa-Ratnam
9
Baljit Singh Sidhu
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
Jagjit Singh
Gopal Sreenevasan
10
Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah
Proposer
:
Dhanaraj Vasudevan
Seconder
:
John Skelchy
11
Dahlia Lee Wooi Mien
Proposer
:
R Ravindra Kumar
Seconder
:
Dato’ MS Murthi
12
Md Radzi Mustafa
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
7.2
Nominations were closed.
7.3
The Chairman invited the candidates to each say a few words.
7.4
Rashid said that he had been serving the KLBC for the last 3 years. During his 3 years
with the KLBC, he had chaired the IT Committee and the Pupils Welfare Committee. His
contributions for the year 2006 could be seen in the Annual Report. He was offering himself
for election again this year mainly because he believed he could make a difference to the
Pupils Welfare Committee for the next year. He hoped that he would have the support of
the members.
7.5
Brendan said that he was offering himself for election because he would like to serve the
KL Bar in a more active role. For those who do not know him, he did not intend to make any
promises except that he is guided by logic and common sense. He believed that the
Committee, now more than ever, needs people who are driven only by logic and common
sense and nothing else and he asked members to vote for him on that basis.
7.6
Baljit said that he had been serving on the KL Bar Criminal Practice Committee for the last
2 years as the Deputy Chairman. He had been serving the KL LAC for the last 7 years and
last year as the head of the Dock Brief Programme. He just wanted to offer members a
choice and to have a better participation in the Committee. He definitely needed members’ support.
7.7
Anand said that when he stood up for the first time 3 years ago, he had said that he just wanted
to get into the Committee to essentially head the Sports Committee which he had done so
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:
:
Dinesh Kanavaji
Lee Swee Seng
Haji Sulaiman bin Abdullah
Zainudin Ismail
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for the last 3 years. However, he found out that over the last 3 years he did not just have
to do sports but had to get involved in a lot of other things; a lot of the politics amongst
his fellow members and politics at the Bar Council. He believed that at the end of the day
whatever decisions that he had made in the last 3 years apart from sports, he had done it
without fear or favour and with a clear conscience. He believed that he had done the right
thing and had been asked to stand for one more term which he is doing so and hoped that
members would vote for him for that.
16
7.8
Sanjeev said that he had served the Committee for 4 terms on various sub-committees. He had
taken a 2-year break and had moved on to emceeing at dinners of the Bar Council and Bar
Committee. Dinners had gotten boring and thus he felt that he should move back to the
Committee and try to enlighten the Committee a little. He assured members that he would
work hard and that he is an honest, diligent and principled person and looked forward to
their votes.
7.9
Dahlia said that she was standing up for the first time and members may wonder why she
was doing it now. For the last 2 years she had been serving as the Deputy Chair of the Court
Liaison Committee and she views this year as a very important year because of the shift
of the Courts in KL to the new Court Complex in Jalan Duta. She believed that there would
be many problems, pre-shifting and post-shifting. The Court Liaison Committee has a truly
good rapport with the Judiciary and the Courts and she would like to continue with that and
to make sure that the problems could be overcome. She anticipated a lot of problems and
hoped that she could get on board and help to resolve the problems for members.
7.10
Annou said that one of the issues which is very close to his heart is the new Court Complex.
He believed all members had heard about the new Court Complex having 77 courtrooms
and the lack of car park but one issue that needed to be tackled is logistics. Many lawyers,
young and senior, travel by LRT and are accustomed to the Masjid Jamek LRT and Dang
Wangi LRT. He would like to meet the Minister and all relevant parties and ask 3 questions.
The first question is whether there are going to be LRT and RapidKL bus services to the new
Court Complex. The second question was whether there is a place for our Muslim lawyers to
pray. The third question was, if Chow Kit could have a LRT station, why not the Duta Courts.
If members vote for him he would work closely with the relevant committee to make sure that
the logistics were looked into.
7.11
Richard thanked his proposer and seconder and said that he had been very honoured for the
last 2 years to have led what he felt was an exciting committee called the Young Lawyers
Committee (“YLC”). He believed that the YLC had done quite a lot but whether they had
done enough was for members to decide. He would like to pick a few items that were very
close to his heart and one of them was the drafting of the Red Book which was a reaction
after the Nude Squat video. The second item was the Charity Nite. In the last 2 years,
the YLC had collected close to RM30,000 for the unfortunate and handicapped children.
Recently, the YLC had started the flood fund where members of the YLC went to Johor to
help the unfortunate people affected by the flood. However, he was most pleased with one
particular issue. He had been fortunate that during his term as YLC Chair, S. 46A(1)(A) of
the LPA was abolished after almost 30 years. In fact it was the hard work of the Bar Council,
KL Bar and his predecessors. He happened to be the person who was holding the baton
when they crossed the line and got the section abolished. The benefit of the abolishment of
the said section could be seen at this meeting; candidate no. 9, Dipendra Harshad Rai is a
member who has been in practice for less than 7 years. If members have been reading the
Malaysian Bar Website, every State Bar that has already had their elections now has young
lawyers with less than 7 years standing serving on their Committee and he is extremely proud
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of that. In his personal capacity, he happened to be the Deputy Chair of the National Young
Lawyers Committee where he worked under Edmund Bon. He was also on the Organising
Committee for last year’s Yayasan Tun Suffian’s Foundation Dinner, an event which he enjoyed
thoroughly. He is offering himself for election to the Committee for the next term. He
believed that he could do a good job and hoped that members would vote for him.
7.12
Dipendra said that first and foremost he would like to thank his proposer and seconder for nominating
him as a candidate in this election.This was his first attempt and hoped he would not to let
anyone down. He then spoke a little about himself. He had been active in the Court Liaison
Committee and the YLC for the past 2 years. If members had read the Annual Report of the
past 2 years, members would find that both committees had done well with a lot of activities
and addressing many issues faced by members, both young and senior. Despite the fact that
he is merely a legal assistant in a large law firm, he would still manage to find the time and
strike a balance in serving the Committee and his own work. That would not be a problem if
at all if he was elected to serve in the Committee. There are many issues close to his heart
and he intends to see through a lot of plans which he has and hoped that members would
see it fit to give him a chance and judge him at the next AGM.
7.13
Ivan said that he had been co-opted to the KLBC for the last 2 years to Chair the Social
Committee. Prior to that he had served on the Social Committee under Colin Pereira. In
many ways he guessed he had been branded as the social man. He had also been organising
the Annual Dinner for the Bar Council for the last 3 years. He supposed the Social Committee
does not have much impact on the legal profession per say but he believed that in some way
it does help instill friendship and camaraderie amongst the members which in this time the
Bar needs it more than ever. He is offering himself for another year to serve on the Social
Committee and looked forward to members’ support.
7.14
Sivananthan said that he chaired the Criminal Practice Committee and had been serving
the Bar since 2005 as Deputy Chairman where Criminal Practice was under the Court Liaison
Committee. Last year, it was felt that there was a need to have a separate committee for the
Criminal Bar and he stood for election last year and had been chairing the Criminal Practice
Committee since then. He is offering himself again this year hopefully to carry on doing the
same thing. He added that these days the Criminal Practice Committee does not only deal
with members of the Criminal Bar but also has to assist lawyers who got into trouble with
the Police. If given the opportunity, he would like to continue serving in the same capacity.
7.15
Radzi said that this was the first time he was standing as a candidate. He may not be able
to offer anything except for the fact that he had served DBKL as a legal officer for a few years
and if the Bar wants to have their co-operation he may be the best person to assist and just to
mention without boasting, the present Ketua Pengarah is his best friend. He thanked Haji
Sulaiman who was his lecturer and mentor since his university days and Zainudin Ismail,
the past KLBC Chairman and his close friend and as GK said earlier on, if he was to be
elected to the Committee, he would be able to serve on whatever Committee that may suit
him.
7.16
Jagjit asked if Radzi could help to increase the car-park spaces at the new Court Complex.
The Chairman said that he would let the incoming Committee liaise with Radzi.
7.17
Voting by secret ballot took place. The Chairman informed members that they need not vote
10 names but can vote up to 10 names only. He then reminded the pupils present that they
were not entitled to vote.
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ITEM 8 OF AGENDA: To elect one (1) member to represent the Kuala Lumpur Bar on the
Bar Council for 2007/08
18
8.1
1
Steven Thiruneelakandan
Proposer
:
Hendon Haji Mohamed
Seconder
:
Jerald Gomez
2
Ragunath Kesavan
Proposer
:
Seconder
:
8.2
Nominations were closed.
8.3
The Chairman invited the 2 candidates to each say a few words.
8.4
Steven said that he was again honoured to offer to serve the members as the KL Bar representative
to the Bar Council. He is standing on the same platform that he had stood on last year and
that is service and dedication to the Bar. His maiden year at the Bar Council had been a very
useful experience. It had added to the exposure that he had gained in the sub-committees of
the Bar that he had served on; the Human Rights Committee, Law Reform Committee and the
Professional Development Committee and his term in the KLBC as Chairman of the CLE
Committee in the years 2004 to 2006. He was privileged to Chair the Bar Council Industrial
Court Practice Committee this term and it was truly a pleasure to work with so many
dedicated servants of the Bar. He was proud of the work that they had done as a Committee. If
there was one regret that he had it was that he had not been able to further the CLE agenda
at the Bar. Having had a hand in the CLE blue-print of the KLBC, which had mushroomed
into a very successful professional development programme for pupils and lawyers alike,
he was hoping to move the Bar nation-wide programme up a few notches. If re-elected and
if given the opportunity, this would certainly be his focus and objective. He believed that the
Bar must have a viable CLE programme that members can participate in with minimum
disruption to their daily practice and at minimum costs. He would like to recognise his
opponent, Ragunath who had contributed immensely to the work of the Bar in particular in
the Professional Indemnity Scheme of the Bar. He deserved credit and respect for that. He
ended by recalling the immortal words of Sir Walter Scott, “Without courage, there cannot
be truth, and without truth there can be no other virtue”. He said that leadership at the Bar
is about the pursuit of truth and independence, in our efforts to improve the lot of fellow
members. That is why it is an honourable calling and he is proud to take up the cudgels of
that calling. He thanked God for the opportunity to serve the members and hoped to have
their support.
8.5
Ragunath Kesavan said that currently he is serving as the Secretary of the Bar Council. He had
served on the KLBC for a number of years as a Committee member, Honorary Secretary and
Chairman. He had also been the KL Bar representative to the Bar Council. He believed
in the unity of the Bar which is of utmost importance and would certainly strive to unite
the Bar should he be given the opportunity to serve as the KL Bar representative to the Bar
Council.
8.6
Voting by secret ballot took place.
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Haji Sulaiman bin Abdullah
M. Puravalen
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RESULTS OF THE ELECTION UNDER ITEM 6 OF THE AGENDA
The Chairman announced the results as follows:1
2
R. Ravindra Kumar
3
GK Ganesan Spoilt votes :
152 votes
:
258 votes
:
161 votes
: 4
R. Ravindra Kumar was declared elected as Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee for the year 2007/08
ITEM 9 OF AGENDA: General
9.1.
Simplification of Call to Bar ceremony
9.1.1
The Chairman said that the outgoing Committee would like to propose that Call to Bar ceremony
be simplified. The outgoing Committee had found that some of the speeches at the ceremonies
were too long and had bounced off the idea of a simplified ceremony with the Judge presiding
over such occasions and she agreed to it. He would like to know the mood of the House if
speeches were to be reduced to 5 minutes per mover.
9.1.2
Low Beng Choo said that in fact it has been the practice that each speech is limited to 3
minutes only but there should be nothing political.
9.1.3
Sivarasa sought clarification on the restriction about political matters being raised in Call
speeches.
9.1.4
Low Beng Choo explained that in the past there had been some experience where some of
the movers had in the midst of giving the speech made statements relating to some
political parties. Thus, the request was to confine speeches to the occasion which was
moving the Call and nothing else.
9.1.5
Sivarasa said that he would like to advise some caution about accepting general restrictions
like no mention of political matters in Call speeches because those things are difficult to
pin down. If a lawyer, for example was the founder of a particular political party and was
called to the Bar, certainly he would like to have it said in his Call speech that he played
a particular role. Some caution therefore must be exercised but limiting the time of each
speech to 3 minutes is fine.
9.1.6
The Chairman said that the incoming Committe would take note of the sentiments expressed by Sivarasa.
9.1.7
Hendon Haji Mohamed said she just wanted to say that to be fair to the majority of the movers,
generally they do keep to the 3-minute limit. Occasionally, there would be someone who
would go on and on but that is a rare exception.
9.1.8
The Chairman said that he would take it that the mood of the House was in favour of the
simplification of Call ceremony.
9.2
Chinese New Year Greetings
The Chairman said that the Committee would like to take the opportunity to wish all Chinese
members “Gong Xi Fa Cai” for the coming Chinese New Year.
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
MINUTES
19
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
Steven Thiruneelakandan
2
Ragunath Kesavan
Spoilt votes :
243 votes
:
167 votes
: 3
Steven Thiruneelakandan was declared elected as the KL Bar representative to the Bar Council for
the year 2007/08.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Anand Ponnudurai
Brendan Navin Siva Abdul Rashid Ismail Richard Wee Thiam Seng
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
N. Sivananthan
Dahlia Lee Wooi Mien Dipendra Harshad Rai Baljit Singh Sidhu
Md Radzi Mustafa
Annou Xavier :
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
362 votes
346 votes
319 votes
287 votes
259 votes
244 votes
242 votes
235 votes
217 votes
214 votes
183 votes
108 votes
The following members were declared to serve on the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee for the year 2007/08
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Anand Ponnudurai
Brendan Navin Siva
Abdul Rashid Ismail
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
N. Sivananthan
Baljit Singh Sidhu
Dinesh Kanavaji moved a vote of thanks to the outgoing Committee for all the efforts that they had
put in for the KL Bar in the last one year.
The Chairman thanked Dinesh and said that it was a pleasure serving the members of the KL Bar. There being no other matters, he declared the 15th Annual General Meeting of the Kuala Lumpur
Bar closed at 5.30 p.m.
Anand Ponnudurai
Honorary Secretary
Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee
20
MINUTES
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
A. INTRODUCTION
R. Ravindra Kumar
Chairman
Kuala Lumpur Bar
Committee 2007/08
My tenure in leading the KL Bar in 2007/2008 has been an extremely
enriching experience. Much of our activities this term were centered
on improving the interest and well being of members, improving the
existing programe for younger members in having more workshops
through our CLE programe and to further engage the relevant stakeholders to improve the day to day practice of our members. The work
and efforts that we had undertaken this term would not have been
possible without the untiring commitment and support I got from each
and every individual committee member and their team of members
working in the various sub committees. Members will note from their
accompany reports that this was truly the case given the increase and
variations in our activities.
B. COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
(i)
Kuala Lumpur Court Complex
The main focus of the KLBC when it took office on 12.02.2007
was the KL Courts’ move to the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex
at Jalan Duta. Many meetings were held with the Acting Chief
Registrar, the Senior Sessions Court Judge and other Court
Officials including Officers from the Legal Affairs Department
to ensure that there was a smooth transition in the move of
the Courts to the new Court Complex. The Court Liaison Committee
played a major role in this exercise and is still having regular
dialogues with relevant authorities to try and iron out problems
that had yet to be resolved and/or that arise from time to time.
At our persistency, the KL Bar was allocated two Bar Rooms
and a Legal Aid Room. A simple opening ceremony of the two
Bar Rooms was held on 10.07.2007 officiated by our Malaysian
Bar President, Ms Ambiga Sreenevasan.
We also appreciate the contribution from the Bar Council
towards defraying part of the renovation costs for the Bar Room.
(ii)
Courtesy Calls
The KLBC paid courtesy calls on Tuan Ahmad Terrirudin on
13.03.2007 (who was then the Acting Chief Registrar), Tuan
Azman Abdullah on 14.03.2007 (who was then the Senior Sessions Court Judge and now a Judicial Commissioner), the Minister of Law, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri on 08.05.2007,
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
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Book was handed over to His Lordship’s wife
at a Memorial on 15.06.2007 organised by
close friends of the late Judge.
the new Chief Registrar, Datuk Halijah Abbas on
08.08.2007, the new Senior Sessions Court
Judge, Tuan Harminder Singh on 05.09.2007,
the Attorney General on 12.09.2007
and the President of the Court of Appeal on
21.01.2008
We took the opportunity to raise issues of
concern at these courtesy calls with the main
focus on issues pertaining to the move of the
KL Courts to the new Court Complex at Jalan
Duta. Circulars / reports on the issues raised
were sent/will be sent to members via the
KLBC E-mail Newsletters and posted on the KL
Bar Website www.klbar.org.my.
The KLBC visited Y.A. Datuk George Seah,
who suffered a stroke in 2005, at his home on
19.05.2007. Datuk was one of the Supreme Court (now known as the Federal Court) Judges
who was dismissed in the 1988 Judicial Crisis.
(iv)
The KLBC was invited to provide feedback on
the proposal by the Judiciary to introduce PreAction Procedures for Personal Injury Claims.
The KLBC sent out two questionnaires and
organised a Forum on 10.04.2007 to receive
comments, views and feedback from members
on the proposed Pre-Action Procedures. We had also sought appointments to call on
the new Chief Justice and Chief Judge of Malaya
but as at the date of this report, no date has yet
been fixed.
(iii)
A number of meetings were held with the
Chief Judge of Sabah & Sarawak and a
working committee comprising 6 Personal
Injury Lawyers and 4 senior Sessions Court
Judges was formed and a draft guidelines for
awards in personal injury had been drawn up
to ensure consistency in the awards. The draft
guidelines had been forwarded to the Chief
Judge of Sabah & Sarawak for consideration. I
would like to extend my appreciation to Americk
Sidhu, John Fam, Santhana Dass, Siva Dharma,
Raslan Hadri, SL Tan and to all the members
of the PAP group for a job well done.
Visits
The KLBC visited Allahyarham Y.A.A. Tan Sri
Dato’ Hj Abdul Malek and the Late Y.A. Datuk
KP Gengadharan in hospital before their demise. The KLBC visited Datin Salmah bt Md Kassim,
wife of Allahyarham Y.A. Dato’ Abdul Wahab
Said, on 12.03.2007 and handed over to her
and her family the Memorial Book containing
thoughts about the Judge penned by members
of the Bar, initiated by the KLBC after Dato’s
sudden demise on 07.01.2007.
A Memorial Book was also arranged for members
of the Bar to pen their thoughts about the
late Y.A. Datuk KP Gengadharan who
depar ted on 21.04.2007. The Memorial
22
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Pre-Action Procedures for Personal Injury
Claims
(v)
Forum on the Proposed No Fault Liability
(“NFL”) Scheme
The KLBC organised a Forum on 23.10.2007
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to receive comments, views and feedback
from members on the No Fault Liability
Scheme which the Attorney General’s Chambers
was proposing to introduce. The minutes of
the Forum was documented and forwarded to
the Bar Council “NFL” Task Force for them to
appropriately act on the matter.
(vi)
(viii)
On 30.10.2007, a meeting was held between
the Judiciary, various State Bar Committees
and stakeholder, and the service provider
where we were briefed on the charges. An e-mail
was sent seeking members’ feedback on the
proposed charges and other queries that
members may have about the system. The
views/feedback received had been compiled
and forwarded to the Judiciary.
Forum on the State of the Judiciary
At the decision made by the Bar Council that
all State Bars were to organise a Forum for
their respective State to create awareness
on the state of the Judiciary in Malaysia especially amongst the public and civil society,
the KLBC had originally targetted to hold this
Forum in February 2008. However, in light of
the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry on
the “Video Clip” and pending its outcome, we
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
Press Statement
A Press Statement was issued on 21.09.2007
expressing the KLBC’s shock and dismay
over the “video-clip” issue and supporting the
call made by the Bar Council for the establishment
of a royal commission of inquiry into the matter. Video Conferencing System for the Court
At the invitation of the Judiciary, the KLBC
attended a demo of the video conferencing
system on 07.06.2007. The KLBC also attended
a mock video conferencing between the KL
Court and Penang Court and the KL Court and
Kajang Prison on 07.08.2007 at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex. (vii)
decided to defer this Forum to a later date.
(ix)
Other Events
T h e K L B C wa s i nv i ted to a t te n d t h e
of f i c i a l launching of the e-Industrial Court
on 27.03.2007, the official launching of the IP
Court at the KL Court Complex on 17.07.2007
and the official opening of the KL Court
Complex on 27.08.2007.
In the course of our term, we have also
received invitations from many organisations
to participate in various events, amongst
which were:
•Malaysian Human Rights Day 2007 Conference
on “Human Rights and Elections”
• Konvesyen Integriti Nasional
• Asean Integrity Dialogue 2007
•The Announcement of Corruption Index 2007
• Focus Group on Closing Business
(x) Committee Meetings
As at 31.12.2007, the Committee met 11
times and the attendance of each member
was as follows:
R. Ravindra Kumar
Anand Ponnudurai
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
-
-
11
10
23
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
Brendan Navin Siva Abdul Rashid Ismail Richard Wee Thiam Seng
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
N. Sivananthan
Ravindran Nekoo
Raja Riza Shazmin
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
9
11
10
9
8
10
11
8
2
9
Steven Thiru, the representative to the Bar
Council was invited to attend the Committee
meetings as observer and also to report to the
Bar Council on relevant matters as and when
pertinent and necessary. He attended a total
of 9 meetings and worked closely with the
committee.
(xi)
Finance, Subscriptions and Non-subscription
Income
The financial position of the Committee remains
stable with a sum of RM651,023 in Fixed
Deposit and RM284,713 in Trust Account with
Amanah Raya Berhad. Details of the financial
position are set out in the Audited Accounts
ending 31.12.2007.
The subscription for the year 2007 was fixed
at RM100.00 at the last AGM on 12.02.2007. At the closing of the Committee’s financial
year on 31.12.2007, 144 members were in
arrears of the 2007 subscription.
This term, we managed to raise a total of
RM99,383 from sponsorships, website and
newsletter advertisements and CLE Lectures.
C. SUB-COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
12 sub-committees were established to facilitate the
organisation of the KLBC’s various activities and to
cater to the needs of members. The sub-committees
were ably led by the respective Committee members
as follows:
24
i
Continuing Legal Education:
Abdul Rashid Ismail
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
ii
Conveyancing Practice:
Baljit Singh Sidhu
iii
Civil Court Liaison:
iv
Criminal Practice:
N Sivananthan
v
Environmental Law:
vi
Information Technology:
Raja Riza Shazmin
vii
Legal Aid:
Ravindran Nekoo
viii
Publications:
Brendan Navin Siva
ix
Pupils Welfare:
x
Social, Arts and Culture:
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
xi
Sports:
Anand Ponnudurai
xii
Young Lawyers:
The accompanying reports of the various sub-committees
are a reflection of the work performed by the subcommittees.
D. OBITUARIES
We record with deep sorrow the passing of the following
members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar during the year
under review:
Mohd Nasir bin A Khalid on 08.02.2007
Dato’ S P Veloo on 23.05.2007
Vong Poh Fah on 25.05.2007
Manjit Singh a/l Gurcharan Singh on 01.06.2007
Selvarani Paneerselvam on 24.06.2007
Mah Teck Chong on 17.08.2007
Vijayaram Krishnan on 17.09.2007
Nik Mariah binti Tan Sri Nik Ahmad Kamil on 15.10.2007
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The Reference Proceedings in respect and memory of
the abovementioned departed members is scheduled
to be held on 18.02.2008. The Proceedings will be
presided over by Y.A. Puan Lau Bee Lan.
E. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONCLUSION
The Committee records the cooperation and assistance
received from the Judiciary at all levels and our other
stakeholders where various discussions had been held.
It is hoped that this 2 way dialogue will continue in
the future and more will be achieved in the years to
come.
On behalf of the KLBC, I wish to record my appreciation to
members of the KL Bar who have assisted us on various
representations, in Court and for their involvement in our
various activities. Special mention and acknowledgement
must be made of the team of sub-committee members
who assisted the 12 Chairman in carrying out their
activities.
Whilst the KL Bar continues to face challenges, we
will remain steadfast in ensuring that our objective in
serving our members is not compromised. On a final note, I truly hope that members will continue
to extend their full support as was done this term to
the incoming committee.
R. RAVINDRA KUMAR
Chairman
KL Bar Committee 2007/2008
When I took on the role of Chairman, I knew that there
was a lot of work to be done. This task was however
made easier by the tireless dedication and commitment
demonstrated by each of the 12 Committee members
of the KLBC 2007/2008. It has been a privilege for
me to work with them, with each of them having
made several inroads in their respective portfolios to
not only serve the members better but to introduce
changes that are in keeping with the present needs
and expectation of our members.
My special thanks to Anand Ponnudurai, the Honorary
Secretary and Mary Tan, the Executive Secretary for
their assistance and advice rendered to make my
tenure a fulfilling one. To the staff of the KL Bar
Secretariat, my sincere appreciation to you for your
continued commitment to the Secretariat.
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
25
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
secretariat report 2007/08
THE STAFF
Mary Tan
Executive Secretary
On 30.04.2007, Sulochana who had taken care of the Bar
Room at Wisma Denmark (before the move of the Courts to
the KL Court Complex in May 2007, the Civil High Courts were
located at Wisma Denmark) for 14 years was medically boarded
out on the advice of doctors. She joined us on 16.04.1993.
The KLBC paid her compensation in accordance with the
Employment (Termination and Lay Off Benefits) Regulations
1980. The Secretariat assisted her in getting compensation
from SOCSO. We wish her well.
The vacant position was filled by Norhafizah binti Ahmad Padali
who joined on 02.07.2007. Norhafizah manages the Bar Room
on the left wing of the KL Court Complex while Thirumahil
Ramalingam or Vasu as commonly known, manages the Bar
Room on the right wing. Besides managing the Bar Room and
rendering assistance to members of the Bar who patronise the
Bar Room, Norhafizah also helps to take the group photographs
at Call ceremonies and collect the weekly cause lists from the
Courts for uploading to the KL Bar website.
Azura Zakaria
Executive Officer
Perhaps it may be apt at this juncture to make mention of the
facilities/services currently available to members (some at a
charge) in the Bar Rooms as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
Melissa Dass
Executive Officer
26
A set of the MLJs (from 1990 to the current year) in each
Bar Room;
Telephone in both Bar Rooms;
Facsimile facility in the Bar Room on the left wing;
A computer and printer in the Bar Room on the left wing;
Water dispenser in both Bar Rooms.
Back to the staff, Indira, our Admission Clerk who handles Petitions
for Admission to the Bar received her long service award on
16.01.2007. She has served the KLBC for 10 years. Two other
members of the Secretariat staff are due for their long service award
in 2008. Rajan, the Administrative Officer who had served
under the Selangor & FT Bar Committee and then the KL Bar
Committee when it was established on 01.07.1992, is in his
20th year of service and Masni, a general clerk is in her 15th
year of service. We are fortunate to have a group of loyal and
dedicated staff, majority of whom have served the Committee
for many years. S E C R E T A R I AT R E P O R T
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The Organisation Structure containing details of
the portfolios of each staff member can be found
on the KL Bar website www.klbar.org.my.
We at the Secretariat will certainly continue to
strive to serve the KL Bar better and provide members
with a more efficient Secretariat. In this IT age, the Committee is constantly looking
at using information technology to improve and
upgrade the facilities and services provided to
members particularly through the website and to
effectively carry out these jobs, there is a need for
a full time IT Officer to be engaged. The Committee has
approved the same and the position would be
advertised once the IT Committee has finalised the
scope of duties. We envisage the IT Officer joining the
Secretariat in the term of the new Committee.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FUNCTIONS
2007 has indeed been another busy year. With
11 sub-committees (the Legal Aid Management
Panel has its own staff) and a host of projects and
activities undertaken by each sub-committee and
the main Committee, the secretariat staff with a
strength of just 9 persons had worked tirelessly
to ensure that all the projects and activities were
successfully carried out. Full details of the projects
and activities are contained in the Chairman’s report
and reports of the Sub-committees. Besides the
handling of the projects and activities, the Secretariat
also provides secretarial and administrative support
to the KLBC and its Sub-committees. There are
many other regular functions too that the secretariat
staff has to carry out such as processing of Petitions for
Admission to the Bar, maintaining the accounts,
register of members and BC Box system, collection
of annual subscriptions, BC Box rental, attending
to day-to-day enquiries from members of the Bar,
pupils-in-chambers and members of the public,
just to name a few.
The Secretariat staff would like to express our
gratitude to the KLBC Chairman, Mr Ravindra Kumar,
Honorary Secretary, Mr Anand Ponnudurai and all
the Committee members for their guidance and
support in ensuring the smooth running of the
Secretariat and all the projects and activities. We
would also like to thank the members of all the
Sub-committees for their cooperation and assistance
rendered to us in the organising of the various
events. Many thanks too to members of the KL Bar
and various other stakeholders who have assisted
and supported us in one way or another in the carrying
out of our functions.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank
the KLBC for awarding me for my 30 years of service,
15 years with the Selangor & FT Bar Committee
and 15 years with the KLBC, on 02.01.2007. INVITE FOR FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS
The Secretariat invites feedback and comments
from members of the KL Bar on how the Secretariat
can improve its service to the profession which
may be conveyed via e-mail to [email protected]. We are certain that together we will be able to
contribute towards the betterment of the KL Bar
and the legal profession.
Mary Tan
Executive Secretary
Rajan
Admin Officer
Siti Affaeza
Accounts & General
Admin Officer
Indira
Admission Clerk
Rosilawati
Admin Clerk
Masni
General Clerk
Yazid
Despatch Clerk
Norhafizah
General Clerk
Thirumahil
General Worker
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|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
Continuing legal education
committee
The KL Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee (“CLE Committee”)
was set up to assist members of the Bar with their professional
development by conducting programmes such as lectures, seminars
and workshops in relevant areas of law and skills. The CLE Committee
also aimed to provide members with other current knowledge and skills
so that members were not only well equipped in various areas of law,
but were also in touch with other knowledge that may be useful to
their practice, hence adding value to their professional attributes.
In order to meet such objectives, which would cater to the needs of
various groups/categories of members, we divided our programmes
into 5 different modules.
Abdul Rashid Ismail
Chairperson
Committee members
Joanne Long
Mohd Izral Khairy
Jeremiah R. Gurusamy
Selma Enolil Mustapha Khalil
Hanie Izawatie Ahmad Kamil
Sunita Sankey
Wong Tat Chung
Brendan Navin Siva
G. Nanda Goban
Kavitha Thilagar
Gan Khong Aik
Mohd Reza Abu Hassan
Noor Arianti Osman
Renny Suzanna Zaidi
Gopi Krishnan Seshadari
Megat Abdul Munir
Razanna Raslan
Elena Hani Eleas
Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna
Rabindra S. Nathan
Karen Wilfred
Edmund Milkiu
MODULE 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF LEGAL PRACTICE
• • • Target: young lawyers/pupils
Purpose: to provide fundamental instructions to pupils and young lawyers
Areas: Opinion Writing, Drafting of Court Documents, Advocacy, Procedure/Evidence, Conveyancing, Corporate Documentation etc
MODULE 2: SPECIALIST SEMINARS
• Target: mid to senior practitioners
• Objective: to update practitioners on current developments of particular areas of the law
• Areas: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Information Technology Law, Insurance Law, Administrative Law, Company Law, Securities Law, Criminal Law etc
MODULE 3: PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS
• Target: any lawyers interested in this area
• Objective: to equip practitioners with the necessary skills to handle trials and various other practical aspects of legal practice
• Areas: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law, Corporate Law etc
MODULE 4: PUPILS’ PROGRAMME
• Pursuant to the resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting of 2006
• Target: pupils
28
C O N T I N U I N G L E G A L E D U C AT I O N
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• Objective: to provide pupils with the basic knowledge of legal practice
• Areas: Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Conveyancing, File Management etc
MODULE 5: SPONSORSHIPS FOR YOUNG LAWYERS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
• Objective: to provide lawyers with international exposure
•
The lawyers selected wrote reports, which would have been available for publication in Relevan.
Members can download materials from the seminars from the KL Bar website.
Like previous years, the CLE Committee has been using its best endeavours to organise programmes
that will contribute to the enhancement of practical skills and the professional development of the
members. This year, apart from inviting senior practitioners and members of the judiciary to share
their experience and knowledge, the CLE Committee also took the initiative to involve experts from
relevant industries, such as consultants, bankers and accountants. The aim was to ensure that
members get the opportunity to be in contact with and acquire direct guidance from people who
are involved directly in these various industries.
The CLE Committee also recognised the importance of providing maximum interaction during the
learning process. Unlike previous years, the CLE Committee gave more emphasis to practical
workshops on various areas of legal skills and the law. The following were the practical workshops
held by the CLE Committee this year.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Modern Legal Writing (Basic Course)
Modern Legal Writing (Advanced Course)
Workshop cum Mock Arbitration
How to Prosecute and Defend Personal Injury Cases
Practical Advocacy Course (Jointly organised between the Bar Council PSDC and the KL Bar CLE
Committee)
Minority Oppression and Just and Equitable Applications
Habeas Corpus Applications
The CLE Committee also continued with its pupils’ programme, which it initiated last year. The areas
covered in the seminars for pupils were:
•
•
•
•
The Fundamentals of Conveyancing and Commercial Drafting
The Fundamentals of Criminal/Human Rights Litigation
The Fundamentals of Civil Litigation
Bankruptcy Proceedings / Wills, Probate and the Administration of Estates
The CLE Committee organised 34 events between April 2007 to January 2008, covering areas such
as Land Law, Appellate Advocacy, Language Skills, Defamation, Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Corporate
Law, Conveyancing and Arbitration.
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The full programme for 2007/08 is set out below:
DATE
TOPICS
SPEAKER(S)
MODERATOR(S)
20.04.2007 Effective Appellate Advocacy
Y.A. Dato’ James
Brendan Navin Siva
Foong
26.04.2007 The Fundamentals of Criminal / Edmund Bon
Human Rights Litigation
Pupils’ Programme
27.04.2007 The Fundamentals of Civil Litigation Mohd Izral Khairy
Pupils’ Programme
Maidzuara Mohammed
04.05.2007 Risk Management
Corrine Wong
19.05.2007 Modern Legal Writing Workshop
(Advanced Course)
31.05.2007 Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITS) – A New Approach To
Property Investment
08 &
Modern Legal Writing Workshop
09.06.2007 (Basic Course)
15.06.2007 Bankruptcy Proceedings / Wills,
Probate and Administration of
Estate Pupils’ Programme
22.06.2007 Land Acquisition – The importance,
if any, of the enquiry by the Land
Administrator
05.07.2007 The Fundamentals of Conveyancing
and Commercial Drafting
Pupils’ Programme
14.07.2007 Defamation in Cyberspace
18.07.2007
20.07.2007
30
Jackie Yeoh
Junaidah Abdul Rahim Selma Enolil Binti
Shee Fei Ling
Mustapha Khalil
Lim Ye Jhen
Nurizan Jalil
Jackie Yeoh
GK Ganesan
Low Beng Choo
Hanie Izawatie Binti
Ahmad Kamil
Su Tiang Joo
David Dev Peter
Natalie Peh
Dr. Venkat Iyer
Mohd. Izral Khairy
Useful Tips from the Bench
Dato’ Shaik Daud Bin Jerald Gomez
Haji Mohamed Ismail
Introduction to Computer Forensics Ang Eng Seng
Nanda Goban
and Investigation
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21.07.2007
Workshop cum Mock Arbitration
09.08.2007 The Fundamentals of Criminal /
Pupils’ Programme
11.08.2007 Modern Legal Writing (Advanced
Course)
17.08.2007 Regulation of the Securities Market
– the New Capital Market and
Services Act 2007
22.08.2007 Arbitration Act-2005 – From the
perspective of an International
Arbitration Practitioner
07.09.2007 The Fundamentals of Civil Litigation Pupils’ Programme
08.09.2007 How to Prosecute and Defend
Personal Injury Cases Workshop
Sitpah Selvaratnam
Joanne Long
Raja Eileen Soraya
Mohanadass Kanagasabai
Sanjay Mohanasundram
Kevin Prakash
Janice Ann Leo
Alan Adrian Gomez
Foo Joon Liang
Amer Hamzah Arshad
Jackie Yeoh
Shanti Geoffrey of
Nanda Goban
Securities Commission
Ng Jern Fei
Joanne Long
Mohd. Izral Khairy
Cheah Soo Chuan
Santhana Dass
B. Balakumar
Razlan Hadri Zulkifli
Suresh Gerard Sreedharan
12.09.2007 Section 340 of the National Land Jerald Gomez
Shamsul Bahrin
Code – before and after Boonsom
Boonyanit
14.09.2007 Submissions to the Securities
Wong Tat Chung
Commission. Beware Section
32B of the Securities Commission
Act 1993 or its Successor
28 &
Modern Legal Writing Workshop Jackie Yeoh
29.09.2007 (Basic Course)
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10 &
Practical Civil Advocacy
11.10.2007 Course by the Barristers from
Lamb Chambers (Jointly organised
by the Bar Council’s PSDC and
KL Bar CLE Committee)
20.10.2007 Modern Legal Writing Workshop
(Advanced Course)
24.10.2007 Maritime Law - Practice Directions on Ship Arrest
02.11.2007 Labour Law - Breach of Confidentiality
& Trade Secrets in Employment
Contracts
Pupils’ Programme
05.12.2007 From Burgers to Idols: The Future
of Franchising
13.12.2007 The Fundamentals of Criminal /
Pupils’ Programme
05.01.2008 Minority Oppression and Just and
Equitable Applications Workshop
Paul Emerson
Paul Stewert
Shantanu Majumdar
Lloyd Sefton-Smith
Tim Frith
Matthew Winn-Smith
Helen Turnbull
Jackie Yeoh
Sitpah Selvaratnam
Joanne Long
Steven Thiru
Gan Khong Aik
GK Ganesan
Low Beng Choo
Nanda Goban
Natalie Peh
Suaran Singh Sidhu
Sunita Sankey
Edmund Bon
Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang Lim Tuck Sun
Gopal Sreenevasan
P. Gananathan
19.01.2008 Family Law Trials and Applications Chew Swee Yoke
Foo Yet Ngo
Ahmad Kamil
25.01.2008 The Fundamentals of Civil Litigation Mohd. Izral Khairy
Pupils’ Programme
Tharminder Singh
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18.02.2008 A Practical Overview –The Do’s
Michael Chow
and the Don’ts of Opinion Writing
28.02.2008 Avoiding and Dealing With a
Disciplinary Board Complaint
GK Ganesan
Low Beng Choo
[TBC]
[TBC]
Habeas Corpus Applications
Workshop
06.03.2008 Taxation: Tax Avoidance vs. Tax
Evasion
Pupils’ Programme
27.03.2008 SOCSO – scope of boarding out
Jerald Gomez
Edmund Bon
Vijey Mohana Krishnan Megat Abdul Munir
Noor Arianti Othman
A. Ramadass
Kavitha Thilagar
CLE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME
As the Continuing Legal Education programme aimed to enhance the skills and relevant knowledge
of members, we gave members the assistance and opportunity to take part in law conferences held
locally and internationally. This year, under the CLE sponsorship programme we sponsored the
attendance of several members at the following conferences and workshop.
Practical Civil Advocacy Workshop
10-11 October 2007
1.
2.
3.
Poh Choo Hoe
Anita Sheila
Vasanthi Clement
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IBA Conference 2007, Singapore
14-19 October 2007
1.
2.
3.
Jacqueline Chang Li Ch’ing
Saravana Kumar s/o Segaran
Soh Hoon Hoon
Fourteenth Malaysian Law Conference
29-31 October 2007
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Muhendaran a/l Suppiah
Rajasegaran M. Karuppiah
Jayamurugan s/o Vadivelu
Cheng Poh Heng
Hanie Izawatie Binti Ahmad Kamil
Maria Binti Mohd Haris
Yusfarizal Bin Yussoff
Maisurah Binti Wahid
Ding Jo-Ann
G. Nanda Goban
Abun Sui Anyit
Ani Munirah Binti Mohamad
Habizan Rahman Bin Habeeb Rahman
Tan Siew Boon
Sukhjit Kaur
To date, the response for the CLE events has been overwhelming and it is the CLE Committee’s
hope that members will continue to benefit from the programmes that have been organised. The
challenge for the CLE Committee is to continue to improve existing programmes in order to cater to
the ever-changing needs of the profession.
I would like to express my gratitude to all the CLE Committee members, speakers, trainers and
moderators who have taken part in the events held and to those who have agreed to be involved
in the upcoming events. I also extend my appreciation to Azura Binti Zakaria for her dedication and
hard work.
Abdul Rashid Ismail
Chairperson
Continuing Legal Education Committee
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CONVEYANCING PRACTICE
committee
The Conveyancing Practice Committee (“CPC”) started its term by
conducting a survey to obtain feedback on problems faced by members of
the KL Bar in dealing with conveyancing matters, the results of which
were to be used as basis in meetings with the relevant authorities.
MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF WILAYAH LAND OFFICE
Baljit Singh Sidhu
Chairperson
Committee members
Amy Too Siew Mooi
Alex Chong Ching Wai
Chong Wai Kuan
Rita Sabrina Wong Kee Ling
Kathleen Cheong Chor Khuan
The first meeting that the CPC focused on was with the Wilayah Land
Office (“WLO”) in view of the many problems faced by members in their
dealings with the WLO. A meeting was eventually held on 18.06.2007. It was a good and productive meeting as both parties managed to
discuss the problems or issues arising among members when they
are liaising with the WLO. Among the issues discussed at the meeting
were:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lost of titles;
Requirement for statutory declarations;
Extraction of title;
Government loan;
Private Caveat;
Application for consent to transfer; and
Quit rent assessment.
The notes of the meeting had been circulated to members via the circular
no: KLBC 56/07 dated 13.07.2007
TALK ON RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
(CONTROL & LICENSING) ACT, 1966 – PRACTICAL ISSUES
RELATING TO S.22(D)
In light of the uncertainties surrounding the amendments to the Housing
Development (Control & Licensing) Act 1966, the CPC organised two
talks on the Practical Issues Relating to S.22(D) on 07.06.2007 and
29.06.2007. The talks were delivered by Mr. Andrew Wong, Deputy
Chair of the Bar Council Conveyancing Practice Committee. Both talks
received overwhelming response from our members as the seats
were taken-up within a week from the day we publicised the talks and
the CPC, due to space constraints had to turn down a good number of
participants.
MEETING WITH COMPANIES COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA
The CPC also managed to have a meeting with the officials of the Companies
Commission of Malaysia (“CCM”) on 28.08.2007. The meeting was
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very effective as the CPC were able to addressed issues that needed
clarification from the CCM. The following are the issues that were
discussed at the meeting:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Form 34;
Extraction of forms;
Filing / Lodgement of forms;
Annual returns;
Online searches; and
Certification of documents by the Company Secretary
The minutes of this meeting had been circulated to the members via
circular no: KLBC 69/07 dated 13.09.2007.
MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT OF INSOLVENCY MALAYSIA
The meeting was arranged in view of the numerous concerns received
from members on certain issues with regard to the Department of
Insolvency Malaysia (“DIM”) especially the issue on private liquidator.
The meeting took place on 02.10.2007 and it was an effective meeting
as we managed to get the clarification from the officials of DIM on
several issues concerning private liquidator, unfinished / abandoned
housing projects and creditor’s meeting. The minutes of this meeting
had been circulated to the members via circular no: KLBC 82/07 dated
05.10.2007.
MEETING WITH THE INLAND REVENUE BOARD – STAMP DUTY DIVISION
A meeting between the CPC and the Stamp Duty Division took place
on 04.12.2007. This meeting was also joined by our counterpart from
the Bar Council and Selangor Bar. At the meeting the CPC had raised
several issues of fraud, Islamic Banking, adjudication of MOT and
endorsement on subsidiary instrument.
At the time of this Report the Minutes of the Meeting are pending
approval by the Inland Revenue Board. It will be circulated to members
in due course.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I wish to express my appreciation to the members of the Conveyancing
Practice Committee for their efforts and dedication in ensuring the
success of the activities held for this term. Without their cooperation
and active participation, the agendas for the Committee could not
have been carried out.
Baljit Singh Sidhu
Chairperson
Conveyancing Practice Committee
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CIVIL COURT LIAISON COMMITTEE
COURT SHIFT
In the months of April right up to June/July 2007, the entire Civil Court
Liaison Committee (“CCLC”) concentrated and mobilised its attention
and effort towards working with the Court to smoothen the process
of shifting and resolving issues which may or had arisen following
the move of all Kuala Lumpur Courts to the newly-built Kuala Lumpur
Court Complex at Jalan Duta.
Chairperson
Andrew Teh
Deputy Chairperson
Committee members
Annou A. Xavier
Reggie Wong Mew Sum
Michelles Foo Li Mei
Yap Lai Lian
Arthur Wang
Harjinder Singh
Robert Low
Md. Radzi Mustafa
Habizan Rahman
Selva Rani Thiyagarajan
Patrick Lim
The CCLC had many meetings with the relevant officials from the Judiciary,
the JKR, the Police and so on, even before the Court shift, which was
officially in operation on 17.05.2007, to ensure that there would be
minimal negative impact from the same. Instances of joint cooperative
effort include suggesting to stagger the shift of the various Divisions
of the Court instead of one major move of all Courts on one day and
then liaising with the Courts on the time-table of the shift and listings
of hearings to ensure minimum disruption to Court attendances during
this period; inspecting the Court Complex prior to the shift on
numerous occasions; identifying structural and logistic shortcomings
and defects in the Court Complex and re-designing a map of the Court
Complex which is simpler and more user-friendly (and which was
in fact subsequently modified and adopted by the Court and now
appears on the right and left entrance walls of the Court Complex);
arranging for extra Bar Rooms and appropriate location; holding open
days at the Court Complex prior to its opening to acquaint and
familiarise members of the Bar with the Court; negotiating with the
Court for parking bays for lawyers within the Court compound (which
is still ongoing); negotiating and identifying spaces and location of the
BC Boxes; reconnoitering and identifying available and suitable areas
to serve as extra car parks for lawyers attending Court and carrying
out discussions with car park operators to negotiate on charges;
proposing and making enquiries for shuttle bus service to the Court
Complex/liaising with the Court on the same; discussions with the
Court and the Police on overcoming congestion, jams and lack of car
park spaces and so on.
Despite putting in considerable effort, the shuttle van service launched
together with the Court to provide transport to needy Court staff and
members of the Bar was halted due to permit issues. However,
currently there does not appear to be any serious problems with
transportation to the Court Complex although parking is still a niggling
unresolved issue which effort on our part is unceasing in our push for
internal parking spots for lawyers.
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CONTINUING AGENDA
The byproduct of the shift is the establishment of a good rapport and
working relationship with the current group of Court officers and hopefully,
this will not wane but further enhance over time for the improvement
of the administration of justice. The immediate future goals include
making the Court Complex more handicap-friendly, to increase security
within the Court area (reports of car break-ins had surfaced), to pursue
internal parking lots for members of the Bar and to move forward together
with the Court towards electronic and IT media litigation.
SURVEY FORMS - ISSUES/COMPLAINTS
As of August 2007, the CCLC was back on track in its objective of
serving the members in addressing and highlighting issues/problems
faced by members in their daily practice, to the Court for resolution and towards
this end, the CCLC had issued out survey forms for members’ feedback. MEETING WITH THE INSOLVENCY DEPARTMENT
The CCLC this year had taken the stand that apart from the various
Divisions of the Bench, another obvious affiliate in the system of justice
is the Insolvency department and hence, regular meetings with this
stakeholder must also be on the annual agenda. In this spirit, the
CCLC organised and paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Director and
the Directors of the respective departments at the Insolvency Office in
Putrajaya on 02.10.2007. Various issues affecting the bankruptcy and
winding-up practice were discussed thereat and minutes of the meeting
have since been circulated to the members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar. Letters have been written to the said department to schedule a follow-up
meeting on the matters discussed, which hopefully will take place before
the coming AGM of the KL Bar.
MEETING WITH SUBORDINATE COURT OFFICIALS
In the same month of October 2007, on the 25th, the Committee also
engaged the Judges, Magistrates and Registrars of the Subordinate
Courts at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex at Jalan Duta in the annual
forum where the CCLC channelled issues culled from complaints and
suggestions from the members of the Bar in the course of the year,
to the Judiciary and likewise, the members of the Judiciary related
their views and suggestions to be carried back to the members. Tuan
Harminder, the Head Judge of the Subordinate Courts together with
his team were keen that complaints ought to be specific and names
and events identified so that the issues would be attended to properly. The Court also recommended that regular periodical meetings be held
between the Bench and the Bar to render the relationship meaningful
and effective. The next meeting is targeted for February 2008. There
has been obvious and marked improvements in the Court registries
since the shift and Registrars have even invited members of the Bar to
directly liaise with them on any administrative issues such as missing
files or delay in extractions and so on.
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MEETING WITH DIVISIONS OF THE HIGH COURT
Civil Division - The meeting with the Head Judge of
the Civil Division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court had
originally been set up for 11.01.2008 but has to be
deferred to new date to be fixed due to the re-location of
its Head Judge to the Commercial Division.
Family Division - The new Family Court Judicial Commissioner,
Y.A. Dato’ Hinshawati Binti Shariff was very responsive
to the CCLC’s request for a courtesy call to be paid
on her, which was then set up on 20.11.2007. Several
current issues relating to the family practice were
discussed with the Judicial Commissioner. The report
of the meeting has already been circulated to
members.
Commercial Division - The meeting with the Head
Judge for the Commercial Division and the Registrars
took place on 18.01.2008. The delay in arranging the
meeting was because the said Judge had been away
for a large part of November 2007 and December 2007
was not suitable due to his having just returned from
overseas and it being the month of the Court vacation. An exchange of views and friendly dialogue ensued at
the meeting with a promise that issues where there
were no immediate resolutions due to their nature,
will have to be followed-up at a later date. The minutes
of the meeting are currently being finalised for circulation
to members shortly.
Appellate and Special Powers Division - The Appellate
and Special Powers Division has finally settled down
with the appointment of Y.A. Puan Lau Bee Lan as its
Head Judge and she has graciously agreed to hold a
Reference for departed members of the KL Bar during
2007, on 18.02 2008 and have the meeting with the
CCLC on 29.01.2008.
also to ensure achievement of the aim of the get-together
which was to create a casual and relaxed atmosphere
for members of the Bar to meet and bond with members
of the Bench at least once a year. The response from
the Bar was about the same as last year and could be
better but what took the committee by surprise was the
response from the Judges this year which attendance
surpassed expectation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF APPRECIATION
By the time this Report is published, it is hoped that all the
planned activities have been successfully carried through. The Chair would like to take this opportunity to humbly
thank all the members of the Court Liaison Committee
for their immeasurable contribution in terms of time,
effort and ideas (which is deeply appreciated) to make
all the events come to fruition, in particular and in no
particular order, a warm note of appreciation to Andrew
Teh, Harjinder Singh, Arthur Wang, Robert Low, Yap
Lai Lian, Annou Xavier, Reggie Wong, Michelles Foo,
Harbizan Rahman, Patrick Lim, Selva Rani and Md. Radzi. I would also like to warmly thank my colleagues at the
KL Bar for the cooperation and assistance rendered
at all times and last but not least, I wish to extend my
sincere gratitude and appreciation to Mary and Azura
of the KL Bar Secretariat without whom this subcommittee
would not have been effective.
Dahlia W.M. Lee
Chairperson
Civil Court Liaison Committee
Pervading throughout the various sessions with all
levels and Divisions of the Court system and the Insolvency
Office was a sense of cooperation and willingness to
look into and resolve issues faced by members of the
Bar and a will to work together for the common good of
all stakeholders in the administration of justice.
ANNUAL KL BENCH-BAR GET-TOGETHER
The annual KL Bench-Bar get-together this year was
held on 25.01.2008 at the swimming pool area of the
Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Club. This change
of venue was to give some freshness to the event and
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Criminal Practice Committee
The Criminal Practice Committee (“CPC”) was set up with the principal
aim of ensuring the existence of a body focusing specifically on issues
with regard to members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar and other bodies
involved in the practice of criminal law.
This year the CPC was involved in several activities as follows:OVERVIEW
The CPC has met 6 times since taking office and has had regular
meetings with the Senior Judge in charge of the Criminal Division with
regard to matters pertaining to the administration of criminal justice
in Kuala Lumpur. The CPC’s views were also sought before the night
traffic court was set up and it participated in all meetings to discuss
the same. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the CPC also went
to Kota Kinabalu to study the night court system practised there to
observe any shortcomings before the system was introduced here.
N.Sivananthan
Chairperson
Abd. Shukor Bin Ahmad
Deputy Chairperson
Committee members
Suresh Thanabalasingam
Bernard Francis
Venkateswari Alagendra
Saha Deva Arunasalam
Sivaruben R. Balasekaran
Ken Yong Chie Man
Mohd Zaharudeen Harun
Lee Teong Hooi
The CPC had also discussed with the Senior Judge of the Lower Courts
Criminal Division about the introduction of the “plead guilty forms”
which is being practised in East Malaysia. The CPC has also from time
to time been taking stands on issues of public interest and its statements
have been carried by the press.
DOCK BRIEF PROGRAMME
It had been brought to the attention of the CPC that Magistrates were
no longer allowing pupils to appear in Open Court on the basis that
Section 36(2)(b) of the Legal Professions Act 1976 does not permit
pupils to do so.
The CPC was of the opinion that once an application is made by a Master
on behalf of his pupil, Section 36 (2)(a) will come into effect the moment
the High Court Judge makes the relevant order and the provisions of
this section are not in dispute. Section 36 (2) (b) states that at the
expiration of the three months period, the pupil may appear “in chambers
in the High Court and the Subordinate Courts” which clearly refers to
both the Magistrates and the Sessions Court.
The section then goes on to say that the pupil may also appear “before
any Magistrate, to conduct any cause or matter” which clearly reflects
the right to appear in any matter before a Magistrate. It is the CPC’s
view that the position for chamber matters is already covered in the
first limb of Section 36(2)(b) and the second limb must be read
disjunctively since it would be illogical for the second limb to be
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introduced when the first limb already refers to the
Subordinate Courts.
There is currently a revision against a pending decision
of a Magistrate but unfortunately no date has been
fixed as there is currently no Senior Judge appointed
to the Criminal Division of the High Court.
A meeting was also held in November between the
Senior Sessions Court Criminal Judge and the Criminal
Magistrates to discuss ongoing problems facing pupils
while participating in the dock brief programme. The
meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the
CPC, the Head of the Legal Aid Centre, Administrator
of the Legal Aid Centre, Head of the Dock Brief
Programme and its Secretary. Many outstanding
issues were resolved to ensure that the programme
runs smoothly.
RIGHTS OF PUPILS TO INTERVIEW PRISONERS IN
THE PRISON
A complaint was received by the CPC that the Prison
Authorities particularly in Sungai Buloh Prison were
refusing to allow pupils to interview prisoners whether
on their own or when accompanying another lawyer.
The CPC wrote to the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of
Internal Security and the Director General of Prisons,
Malaysia and they immediately directed the prison
concerned to revoke the said directive. We informed
parties concerned that pupils perform a very useful
service to prisoners with their weekly visits to give
advice etc and we were assured by the prison authorities
that such assistance was much appreciated and the
directive was as a result of a misunderstanding on
the part of a junior prison officer.
MEETING WITH THE HEAD OF PROSECUTION KUALA
LUMPUR
The matters discussed were as follows:i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Request for documents;
Remand procedure under section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code;
Issues of multiple representation;
Other matters.
The 1st Issue - Request for documents.
Puan Sarala lamented that Chambers is still receiving
a lot of requests for documents especially for cases
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at the Magistrate’s Court which is handled not by
Chambers directly but by the Police. She requested
the assistance of the CPC to inform members that
requests for documents should, for cases in the
Magistrate’s Court, be made directly to the Police
and as agreed before, the documents will be given
on the mention date, if it was not given earlier by the
Police. The Officer in Charge of the Court (“OC Court”)
also acknowledged that the Prosecuting Officers
(“PO”) have been instructed to give the documents
immediately at the mention date, if they have not
been given before.
Puan Sarala also noted that some of the requests
lacked particulars and said that in order for the
requests to be looked into, the following must be
included in the requests:i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
case number;
police report number;
the particulars of the court;
the last mention date, if any;
next mention / hearing date, if any.
The 2nd Issue – Remand Proceedings
The OC Court informed all present that the remand
proceedings are conducted at Magistrate’s Court No.
10 and they are conducted in Open Court. The meeting
was also informed that as it is an Open Court
proceeding, it is difficult to control the entry of members
of the public including family members. It was also
brought to the attention of the meeting that lawyers
attending the remand proceeding will not be allowed
to enter the Court until their respective client’s case
is called for the remand proceeding.
The CPC’s stand was that the procedure may be
unsatisfactory as the lawyer should have access to
the client as most of the time the lawyers may be
retained by family members and the persons about to
be remanded may not know of the appointment. The
CPC suggested that the police officers, as far as possible
determine whether the person to be remanded has,
either by himself or his family members, engaged the
services of a lawyer.
In relation to this both Chambers and the CPC agreed
that the current process of remand is unsatisfactory
especially in terms of logistics and security aspects. It
was suggested that both parties meet with the Senior
Sessions Judge to try to iron out this issue.
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The OC Court brought up the issue of pupils-in-chambers
appearing at the remand proceedings. The CPC clearly
were of the view that the pupils, provided that the
have been “short called’ are allowed in law to do so.
The CPC also pointed out that in the past pupils have
been allowed to appear at remand proceedings without
any hindrance.
Puan Sarala agreed that pupils may appear for the remand
proceedings once they have been “short called”.
Another sub-issue was the presence of lawyers holding a
watching brief during the remand proceedings. Puan
Sarala wondered whether such lawyers may appear at
the proceeding. The CPC pointed out that whether a
lawyer may appear or not is for the Court to decide. It
has been agreed that if the Investigating Officer (“IO”)
questions the presence of the lawyer who is holding a
watching brief he may, at the outset of the proceeding,
state the objection to the Court and then request the
Court to decide on that issue first before proceeding
with the remand proceeding.
Puan Sarala also raised the issue of authorities being
cited during the remand proceeding which the IO may
not be able to respond to impromptu. The CPC is of
the view that the citing of authorities should be
allowed and it is up to the PO to request for time to
consider the authorities cited or to seek further advice
from Chambers.
The 3rd Issue - Multiple Representation
ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS ENCOUNTERING
DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AUTHORITIES
At all times, members of the Criminal Practice
Committee are ready to provide and indeed have
provided assistance to any member of the KL Bar in
need of such assistance. This includes dealing with
the Court through discussions held with the Criminal
Division, the Kuala Lumpur Subordinate Courts, the
police and the Prosecution Division and the Registrar
of the Criminal Division of the Kuala Lumpur Subordinate
Courts.
APPRECIATION
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to
the members of the Criminal Practice Committee for
their support and cooperation in ensuring that all
activities were successfully carried out. I also would
like to thank all parties involved in activities carried
out during this term for their cooperation and attention.
I sincerely hope that the efforts of this committee
would in some way facilitate in bringing about a
positive change for practitioners of criminal law.
N. Sivananthan
Chairperson
Criminal Practice Committee
Chambers reiterated that it would not furnish documents
which have been earlier furnished to the previous
lawyer. The new lawyer should obtain the documents
from the previous lawyer unless in exceptional cases
such documents may be given.
The 4th Issue - Other matters
Puan Sarala informed those present that from
15.07.2007 the prosecution in the Session’s Court
will revert to the police except for certain class of
cases categorised as public interest cases deemed
necessary by the Head of the Unit, Wilayah Persekutuan
Kuala Lumpur and/or Headquarters, Jabatan Peguam
Negara, Putrajaya.
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Environmental Law Committee
The Environmental Law Committee (ELC) 2007/2008 took over
office on 05.04.2007 when the committee under review held
its first meeting. There was good response from the members
of the KL Bar when we had 11 members who joined this subcommittee. Some of the ELC members who volunteered their
time and effort for the year under review were also part of the
ELC for 2006/2007.
During the first meeting, the ELC members decided that they will
continue to finalise some of the projects that were still pending
from the ELC 2006/2007.
Chairperson
Committee members
Asmet Nasruddin
Wong Ee Lynn
Karen Kimkana
P. Rajasundram
Rajinder Kaur Gill
Syarifah Syazwani Syed Hussin
The following were the projects undertaken by the ELC under review :
FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT GOVERNANCE AND TRADE
At the beginning of its term the ELC was involved in the discussion
panel held on 06.03.2007 in respect of the Voluntary Partnership
Agreement (VPA) Malaysia Europe Commission Forest Law
Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and provided
advice and comments on the drafting and legislation of the
VPA. As Chair of the ELC I attended the discussion panel held at
the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
MALAYSIAN FOREST DIALOGUE - CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING
AND FINANCING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
The ELC was also invited to partake in the Malaysian Forest Dialogue,
held from 22.10.2007 to 23.10.2007 organised by HSBC
Malaysia Bhd. The objectives of the dialogue among others are
to enhance awareness and share information on aspects affecting
the forestry business and to discuss the practical realities of
implementing and financing sustainable forestry management.
Karen Kimkana and I attended this dialogue.
LEGISLATION AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN INTEGRATED
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND
TRAINING
The ELC, through the auspices of the Bar Council, together with
NAHRIM, CapNET and AguaJaring had also jointly organised
the Legislation and Institution Arrangements in Integrated Water
Resources Management National Conference & 4 day Training
which was held from 9-14th July 2007 at the Securities Commission.
Asmet Nasruddin and Malik Imtiaz from the Bar presented
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papers for the seminar and training programme and 2 members of the
Bar participated in the Conference and Training programme.
This Conference and Programme is aimed to be part of a series in
South East Asia to strengthen the implementation of IWRM processes
in the region. The legal and institutional issues arising will become
increasingly prominent in the context of governmental and private
initiatives in the region on environment and water as a strategic and
common issue.
The Conference was intended as an introduction to the topic for a larger
local audience and was attended by Malaysian participants from the
legal fraternity, engineers, scientists, environmentalists from private /
public sectors, NGOs and all interested parties. The Programme was
also attended by a smaller select group of senior policy makers, opinion leaders and potential trainers within the SEA region
The ELC hopes that in the next year the ELC will be able to organise its
own training programme for members of the Bar.
CARBON CREDITS/CLIMATE CHANGE
In continuing with the ELC’s interest in the Kyoto Protocol and Carbon
Credits that was established by the ELC of 2005/2006, an article on
Carbon Credits Climate Change written by Karen Kimkana and will be
published in Relevan issue 3/07. The ELC will also issue for publication
in Relevan, a 2nd part of its article on climate change.
KUALA GANDAH ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
The ELC had organised a 1 day trip to the Kuala Gandah Elephant
Sanctuary on 03.11.2007. The trip was well attended and saw 48
participants from members of the KL Bar as well as friends and
family members. Most participants who attended had the opportunity to
feed the elephants and bathe the elephants. The ELC had also made a
donation of RM665.00 to the elephant sanctuary from the entry fees
for the trip.
ENVIRONMENT QUALITY ACT 2007
The ELC had also participated in the discussion panel on the amendments
to the Environmental Quality Act (EQA). The Act has since been passed
and gazetted. The ELC has sought to meet the Deputy Minister of the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with regard to the
amendments to the EQA in respect of the amendments incorporating
prima facie evidence in respect of several offences under the amended
Act, which is of concern to the ELC.
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SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC CLEANSING MANAGEMENT
BILL
conference was attended by Wong Ee Lynn and Syarifah
Syazwani, who was sponsored by the KLBC.
The ELC is also currently studying the proposed Solid
Waste And Public Cleansing Management Bill and
hopes to meet the Minister of Housing and Local
Government on various issues of concern in respect
of the legislation. The ELC understands that the
proposed Bill is scheduled for reading in Parliament
sometime next year.
MOVIE PREMIERE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WASTE TO
WEALTH
The ELC was invited to participate in this conference
that was held at the PWTC from 26 to 28 November
2007. Rajinder Kaur Gill from the ELC attended the 3
day conference on behalf of the ELC. The conference
was very technical but certain topics were of interest
to the ELC e.g the implementation of solid waste
management in Malaysia, reducing global warming
and recycling.
The ELC had also organised a movie premiere for the
screening of the movie National Treasure Book of Secrets.
The movie premiere was held on 22.12.2007 at the
GSC Berjaya Times Square. The movie premiere was
held to raise funds for the ELC’s children’s environmental
camp, which the ELC hopes to organise in 2008. 48
tickets were sold for premier class seats which also
included refreshments prior to the screening.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the committee
members for their support to the ELC and their efforts
in organising the above events. I am especially grateful
to all the ELC members who have sacrificed their time
to attend meetings, the conferences and the events
organised by the ELC.
ENERGY AUDIT
The ELC has also embarked on an energy audit exercise
of the Bar Council Secretariat. The energy audit is
headed by Wong Ee Lynn who is assisted by the staff
of the Bar Council Secretariat. The energy audit team
has already completed its compilation of its statistics
and is currently working with the Chief Executive
Officer in implementing various steps in reducing
the energy used in the Secretariat. It is hoped that
with the implementation of the audit committee’s
recommendations, the Bar Council will be able to
reduce its electricity bills and also reduce the energy
consumption at the secretariat.
Chairperson
INAUGURAL MALAYSIAN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
CONFERENCE 2007 - STARTING ON THE SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY JOURNEY
As the ELC had been actively involved in the energy
audit exercise this year, we are of the view that this
conference would give our members the opportunity
to gain knowledge and exposure on the current issues
pertaining to sustainable energy. Hence, the ELC had
taken the initiative to sponsor 2 of its members to
participate in the Inaugural Malaysian Sustainable
Energy Conference which was organised by the Centre
for Environment, Technology & Development, Malaysia
(CETDEM) from 05.11.2007 to 06.11.2007. This
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
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Information Technology
Committee
Raja Riza Shazmin
Chairperson
Steven Wong
Deputy Chairperson
Committee members
Abdul Rashid Ismail
M. Reza Hassan
Deepak Pillai
Norliza Rasool Khan
Mohd Izral Khairy
Krishna Roy Sreenivasan
GK Ganesan
Dato’ Muzzafirah Ahmad Fairuz
46
1.
As a continuation of the main focus of the previous year’s
committee, which strived to provide online registration and
services (including but not limited to the pupillage registration
process), this year the Information Technology Committee has
endeavoured to enhance this service to members. This was done
by:-
1.1
Conducting various meetings and discussions with the
current provider;
1.2 The acquisition of a new semi dedicated server hosting
service;
1.3
Augmentation of IT services for the Bar Rooms in the Kuala
Lumpur Court Complex at Jalan Duta; and,
1.4
Acquiring the services of an IT Officer.
2.
MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS HELD WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS
2.1
3.
ACQUISITION OF NEW SEMI DEDICATED SERVER HOSTING
SERVICE
3.1
Sometime in December, 2007, we acquired a new and
more reliable semi dedicated server hosting service.
3.2
The necessity for a new semi dedicated server hosting
service is apparent in order to cope with the intensity
and influx of traffic due to the increase in the
membership of the KL Bar.
3.2.1 This new semi dedicated server hosting service would
ensure that despite the intensity in traffic,
members would still be served suitably well.
3.2.2 This new semi dedicated server hosting service
would ensure that the eNewsletters would be
issued to members smoothly and efficiently.
I N F O R M AT I O N T E C H N O L O G Y
Meetings and discussions were held with the current
and other service providers in order to acquire new
suggestions and ideas on ways to improve the KLBC’s
services to members.
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A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
4.
HARDWARE FOR BAR ROOM IN THE KUALA LUMPUR COURT
COMPLEX AT JALAN DUTA
4.1
It is a known fact that technology evolves at a staggering
pace. With this in mind, we are especially keen to augment
the IT services at the Bar Rooms at the Courts in Jalan Duta.
4.2
We hope to be able to soon provide members with the
latest hardware and software at the Bar Rooms
together with internet facilities in order to ensure that
members obtain fast and instant information which is
crucial in today’s IT world.
5.
IT OFFICER
5.1
Realising further the need to monitor the IT affairs at
the secretariat on a constant basis, we are of the view
that an IT Officer should be employed on a full time basis.
5.2
At the time of this report, the scope of the IT Officer’s duties
are being finalised and we hope to advertise the position
in the daily newspapers and online.
5.2.1 It is envisaged that the IT Officer will work hand
in hand with the Secretariat, thereby enhancing
the KLBC’s services to its members.
5.2.2 This will also ensure that all IT related matters at the
secretariat are dealt with more efficiently.
6.
THE KL BAR IT FAIR
6.1
7.
THE KL BAR WEBSITE
7.1
The KL Bar website continues to record good daily hits. It recorded hits of approximately 30,000 per day on average. 7.2
The advertising on the KL Bar website this year has
provided income of RM33,450 compared to a sum of
RM25,400 in 2006/07 and RM19,250 in 2005/06
for the KL Bar.
8.
NOTE OF APPRECIATION
8.1
An IT Fair will be held on 21.02.2008 at the Legend
Hotel, in conjunction with the AGM of the KL Bar, to
enable members to view the latest Legal IT products
available in the market in today’s IT savvy world. As
we are moving towards a paperless era, we hope that
members are able to benefit from this IT Fair.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my committee
members who had expended time and effort in ensuring
that the committee is able to serve its members well.
47
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
8.2
I would also like to express my sincerest appreciation to
Mary, Melissa, Indra and Rajan at the KL Bar secretariat
for their input and support given.
8.3
Lastly, I hope that members have been able to benefit
from the services provided and introduced. We
welcome any suggestions and comments to enable
us to continue to serve the members efficiently and to
the best of our abilities.
Raja Riza Shazmin
Chairperson
Information Technology Committee
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Publications Committee
RELEVAN, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Newsletter, took on a new front cover
this term in an effort to introduce a more sleek and contemporary look.
The Publications Committee at its first meeting decided that it would
publish 4 issues for the year 2007/2008. The first issue was published
in April 2007, followed by the second issue in July 2007. At the time of
the writing of this report, the third and fourth issues were scheduled
for publication in December 2007 and January 2008 respectively.
Brendan Navin Siva
Chairperson
Committee members
Cheng Poh Heng
Nicole Wee
Rishwant Singh
Brent Yap Hon Yean
Yudistra Darma Dorai
Shanmuga Kanesalingam
Sudharsanan Thillainathan
Sukhjit Kaur Gill
Audrey Quay Sook Lyn
S. Saravana Kumar
The objectives of the Publications Committee were to bring attention
to issues that were affecting the legal profession and the administration
of justice as well as matters of public interest. The Publications Committee
made a conscious attempt to be issues driven and to actively source
for contributions from members on issues that were considered
important to members of the Bar.
We have attempted to highlight trends in the legal profession, such as
blawgs, and activities of the KL Bar, such as the Charity Nite. Articles
on issues and development of the law and legal practice were also
featured. There was also a conscious attempt to import contributions
and writings from foreign sources including speeches by judges from
other commonwealth nations and transcripts of papers delivered as
part of the CLE program of other jurisdictions.
Regrettably, the number of articles received from members of the KL
Bar continued to follow the declining trend of the previous years. Relevan
also faces serious questions which will have to be tackled and addressed in the coming term. Given the increase in the popularity of
blogs, websites, forums and other social networking appliances available
on the internet, the old school hard copy publications like Relevan will
continue to face difficulties in appealing to the needs and wishes of
the members of the Bar. The incoming members of the Publications
Committee for the next term face the task of transforming or reinventing
the publication to meet these challenges. Relevan would not have been possible without the time, effort and
sacrifice of its committee members and contributing authors. The new
design and layout and the new approach to content are largely attributable
to their efforts and initiatives. Brendan Navin Siva
Chairperson
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
P U B L I C AT I O N S
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Pupils Welfare Committee
STRUCTURE
The Pupils Welfare Committee (“PWC”) was re-structured at the beginning
of the term. PWC for this term consists of 3 Units:-
Chairperson
Committee members
Lee Chooi Peng
Susamma Thomas
Hairul Azam Bin Hambali
Ally Chong Wai Kuan
Dipendra A/L Harshad Rai
Sarah Kambali
Sandesh Kabir Singh
Edward Saw Keat Leong
Azlan Bin Abdul Ro’ni
a.
The Main Unit consisting of members above;
b.
Advisory Panel, consisting of 3 senior members of the Bar:1.
Puan Hendon bt Haji Mohamed
2.
Mr Dennis Appaduray
3.
Mr Lim Chee Wee
c.
Pupils Representative Unit, consisting of a few pupils
The Main Unit carries out most of the committee’s project and plans.
The advisory panel was formed to give PWC members an avenue to
seek opinions and guidance from senior members of the Bar on issues
regarding pupillage.
As for the Pupils Representative Unit, the membership is ever-changing,
as pupils already called to Bar will be left out and new pupils will be
added on. The primary purpose of this Unit is to give opinions and
ideas to the Main Unit. This Unit has turned out to be very useful whenever
PWC plans a project as we gain direct views from pupils.
PROJECTS
These are some significant projects carried out by PWC:1.
Pupils’ Pamphlet
This Blue Coloured Pamphlet printed out an A4 paper, and
folded into a pamphlet format has turned out to be a hit.
Pupils now need not rely on advice from other pupils on
the Pupillage procedures. Instead the Pamphlet acts as a
one-paper guide, giving pupils a step-by-step guide on Pupillage.
Copies of the Blue Pamphlet are available at KL Bar
Secretariat, Bar Rooms and the Rayuan Dan Kuasa-kuasa
Khas (RKKK) Registry of the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
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P U P I L S W E L FA R E
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2.
Seminars/Workshops
•
PWC conducted seminars, called ‘The Whole Nine Yard’ at
Universities and Law Schools around Kuala Lumpur.
At these seminars, members of PWC will give advice
to soon-to-be pupils on the procedures, the do’s and
don’ts’ of Pupillage etc. The academic institutions have
requested we return to carry out more of these seminars.
•
Over and above these seminars, PWC also joined
force with the Young Lawyers Committee (YLC), when
they visited the Universities and Law Schools for YLC’s
workshop, “Managing Expectations”. At these workshops
PWC members get to discuss and impart advice and
experiences about practice to these incoming lawyers.
The workshops were well received, and like PWC’s
above mentioned seminars, these workshops look
like another permanent feature in University and Law
School calendars.
•
In December 2007, PWC also organised a Forum relating
to the newly imposed Ethics Programme, run
by Bar Council. There were much rumbles and
complaints about the high rate of failure for the test
on Ethics. Many pupils also complained of late reply
by Test Markers, which sometimes resulted in the
pupils’ “Long Call” being delayed.
At the Forum, Lim Chee Wee and Steven Thiru spoke
and explained to the pupils on the change in the Ethics
programme and the expectation, expected of the pupils.
Puan Hendon also spoke during the Forum.
3.
Social functions/activities
PWC co-hosted a Social event with the YLC called the “Young
Professionals Evening”. This event also saw the attendance of
many other professionals, namely the Engineers, Pharmacists,
Chartered Secretaries etc etc. More than 150 people were
present and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Dato Liow Tiong
Lai, graced the event.
The Young Professionals Evening was designed to give members and pupils networking and interaction opportunities
with other professionals. Many pupils attended that party and PWC
hopes to organise many more of such events.
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4.
Legal Career Fair
On 12.01.2008, PWC hosted the inaugural
Legal Career Fair. Held at The Legend Hotel,
KL, almost 400 people visited the Career
Fair, where 23 Legal Firms and 2 Major Oil
and Gas Companies were there to meet these
visitors.
The objective of the Fair was simple – give a
platform for people looking for jobs, to meet
people looking for employees. To a large extent,
that objective was reached.
The Legal Firms came prepared for the Career
Fair, and the innovative and striking design of
many of the booths at the Fair was testament
to this. From the feedback received, the Career
Fair looks likely to be a regular feature in the
KL Bar Calendar.
5.
Surveys relating to the allowance of pupils
Issues of pupils’ allowance and working
conditions were surveyed. Results of that
Survey were discussed at KL Bar Committee
meetings and KL Bar with PWC as the working arm, has reacted to the results of the
survey to improve the Pupillage programme.
Enclosed with this Report are the Results of
some of the Surveys conducted.
OTHER YEAR ROUND ACTIVITIES
Other than the above said projects, PWC also carried
out research to improve the current pupillage system.
PWC studied the Legal Profession Act to try and interpret
the relevant provision “Short Calls”, to hear the same
before the Registrars instead of the current system
of having the same before Judges. PWC explored this
issue to try lessen the workload of Judges, and also
to ensure “Short Call” Hearing Dates can be brought
forward as the Deputy and Senior Assistant Registrars
would be able to absorb more Calls. An opinion was
drafted and sent to Bar Council for review. However
the consensus is that the Legal Profession Act may
need amendments to carry out this proposal.
PWC members are also in constant communication
with the High Court’s RKKK registry, to ensure that
pupil’s “Short Calls” and “Long Calls” are running
52
smoothly. We are pleased to repor t that the
relationship between PWC and the Court’s RKKK
registry is healthy and positive. CONCLUSION
PWC hopes Legal Firms in Kuala Lumpur would consider
improving allowances given to pupils. It is encouraging
that many Legal Firms now have increased the
allowances over the years, and PWC hopes this trend
will continue. With the increase in living costs, this
allowance no more act as a pocket money, but for
many of these pupils, it is a crucial source of income.
I also urge the Bar Council to form a Special Committee
to safeguard the Pupils welfare Committee at National
Level, which in my opinion is essential to ensure a
uniform pupillage system all over the country.
With that, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the
members of the Advisory Panel who agreed to act as
advisers to the PWC.
In addition, I must commend that all members of
the Main Unit of PWC were helpful and cooperative.
Despite their busy practice, the Main Unit members
spent many hours to help out with providing ideas
and/or carrying out the many Projects we set out to
do. I thank you.
The input and comments of many pupils who were
members of the Pupils Representative Unit are also
much appreciated. PWC also expresses thanks to the KL Bar Committee
members who were supportive of the projects and
activities of PWC.
Lastly, as Chair of PWC, I wish to take this opportunity to
record my deepest thanks to Ms Mary and Ms Melissa
Dass of KL Bar, whose efforts sometimes went
beyond contractual obligations, and these efforts
helped make many projects of PWC a success.
Chairperson
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
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Results of some of the Surveys conducted by the PWC
Pupillage Allowance
Number of Pupils
Percentage
4
45
61
64
26
200
2
22
31
32
13
100%
Below RM500
Between RM500 - RM750
Between RM751 - RM1,000
Between RM1,000 - RM1,500
Above RM1,500
TOTAL
April - January 2008
394 Pupils
Question
Choices
Throughout your pupillage, Pupillage Allowance
what aspects of pupillage do Communication with KL Bar Committee
you think can be improved?
Communication with your Master
Total Percentage
275
70%
75
19%
128
32%
CLE Programmes
84
21%
Information on pupillage
166
42%
Information on future job prospects
243
62%
Are you aware of the existence Yes
of KL Bar’s Pupils Welfare
Committee?
No
284
72%
99
25%
What are your average working 40-45 Hours a week
hours during your pupillage 45-50 Hours a week
(excluding lunch hour)?
50-60 Hours a week
111
28%
174
44%
100
25%
231
59%
157
40%
How much legal work have
less than 50% since I started my pupillage
93
you done during your pupillage?
more than 50% since I started my pupillage 290
24%
How much clerical work have less than 50% since I started my pupillage
you done during your pupillage
more than 50% since I started my pupillage
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
74%
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|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
As you may be aware, a series
of Seminars on Civil Litigation,
Criminal/Human Rights Litigation,
Conveyancing and Bankruptcy
Proceedings/Wills,
Probate
and Administration of Estate.
What other areas would you
be interested in?
Banking Litigation
197
50%
Intellectual Property
178
45%
Employment Law
158
40%
Maritime Law
116
29%
Taxation
113
29%
Syariah Law
114
29%
43
11%
83
21%
15
4%
Continuing Legal Education Committee
41
10%
17
4%
Information Technology Committee
17
4%
Legal Aid Management Panel
118
30%
15
4%
74
19%
Sports Committee
71
18%
Social, Arts & Culture Committee
94
24%
Young Lawyers Committee
159
40%
Would you be interested in Conyevancing Committee
serving in the KL Bar Committee Criminal Practice Committee
and if so, in which subCourt Liaison Committee
committees?
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SOCIAL, ARTS & CULTURE COMMITTEE
ANNUAL DINNER & DANCE
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
Chairperson
Committee members
Muhendaran Suppiah
Oon Hooi Lin
Melissa Ram
Dinesh Kanavaji
Musyrifah Abdul Malek
Carmen Teh Poh Luan
Rachael Tan Sung Ling
The Annual Dinner and Dance this year was a grand affair to
commemorate our 15th Anniversary. It was held at the Ballroom at
the Westin Kuala Lumpur on 01.12.2007. The Committee concentrated
this year to make the Dinner a little less formal. Entertainment
was provided by the band Slick Material who had also ably backed our
2007 KL Bar Idol, Chryshantini Niles who dazzled the crowd with two
songs. Comedy Court provided the laughs at the end of the night.
Coupled with great lucky draw prizes and a very innovative dinner
menu served up by the able staff at the Westin, the general feedback
received from members was that it was one of the better annual dinners
ever held. BLOOD DONATION
A blood donation drive was held at the Bar Room at the new Kuala
Lumpur Court Complex on 20.08.2007 with the assistance of Pusat
Darah Negara. A total of 44 units of blood were collected from generous
donors.
LEXISNEXIS-KL BAR MOTOR TREASURE HUNT
The LexisNexis-KL Bar Motor Treasure Hunt took place on 08.09.2007
for the second year running. Participation from the general public was
well received but the turnout from lawyers was less encouraging this
time with around 15 cars taking part. Thanks to the very generous sponsors,
all the participants in the Closed Category (consisting of lawyers and
staff of LexisNexis) went home with a prize. The Committee would like to
take this opportunity to thank the management and staff of LexisNexis
for organising another fantastic Hunt. All nett proceeds of the Hunt
were split between the co-organisers to be channeled towards charitable
causes. The Kuala Lumpur Bar’s share was RM3,000.00 which is to
be channeled to Yayasan Sunbeam Homes.
MOUNT KINABALU CLIMB
The Committee had also organised a Mount Kinabalu climb on
10.11.2007. Six (6) members of the Bar took part in the climb including
the organiser Muhendaran, Anand Ponnudurai, Ivan Wong, Christopher
Lee, Maria Mohd Haris and Carolyn Danker. Prior to the Climb, training
sessions were held every Saturday for almost 3 months in Bukit Gasing and
Batu Caves in preparation for the Climb. Though not all the members
made it to the top of Low’s Peak, the trip was indeed made memorable
for all by the amazing scenery around Mount Kinabalu. A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
S O C I A L , A R T S & C U LT U R E
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MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS
•
The Committee had arranged for a special discount for members
for a play called “URMI” at Istana Budaya on 15.06.2007. 13
members attended the play.
•
A visit to the fireflies’ sanctuary in Kuala Selangor was organised
on 14.07.2007 which was attended by 22 members. The
Committee felt it was a worthwhile event due to reports that
the fireflies colony was slowly depleting.
•
A Monthly Get-Together was also mooted at the beginning of
the term by the committee which was to be held on the last
Friday of every month. The first 2 Get-Togethers were very
successful but interest waned considerably by the third event.
•
In the pipeline is a visit to Yayasan Sunbeam Homes which is
slated for the end of January 2008.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the
committee members who have all worked tirelessly in all our activities.
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
Chairperson
Social, Arts & Culture Committee
56
S O C I A L , A R T S & C U LT U R E
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
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Sports Committee
1.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following convenors were appointed to assist in the organising of
the following games :-
Anand Ponnudurai
Chairperson
i.
ii.
iii
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
Badminton
Cricket Hockey
Netball
Soccer Squash
Tennis Volleyball
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
2.
ANNUAL SERIES
2.1
A.I. Nathan
Alex De Silva
K. Vijayaraj
Marie-Julie Wan Ullok
Robert Low
Peh Khaik Kew
Yeoh Cho Keong
Dinesh Kanavaji
7th KL Bar/Selangor Bar Games
(Lall Singh Muker Challenge Trophy)
After successfully winning the trophy hosted by the
Selangor Bar in 2006, the 7th series was hosted by
the KL Bar at various venues on the 12th & 13th January
2007. The KL Bar started on a winning note when they
beat the Selangor Bar and won the Kandiah Chelliah
Trophy for Golf on the 12.01.2007 at the IOI Palm Garden
Resort.
The KL Bar then went on to compete with the Selangor
Bar in hockey, snooker, netball, volleyball, football and
badminton on the 13.01.2007, wherein the KL Bar
triumphed in all except football. As such, the KL Bar
retained the Lall Singh Muker Challenge Trophy with
an overall score of 6 -1 as follows :GAME WON
Golf Badminton
Hockey
Netball
Soccer
Snooker
Volleyball
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
SPORTS
BY
KL Bar
KL Bar
KL Bar
KL Bar
Selangor Bar
KL Bar
KL Bar
SCORE
358 – 328
3–2
6–0
17 – 2
2 -5
3 -1
3 -2
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The prize presentation was done at the final
night dinner which was held at the Royal Selangor
Club on 13.01.2007 which was well attended by
most participants.
The KL Bar looks forward to retaining the trophy
at the 8th series to be hosted by the Selangor
Bar in early 2008.
2.2 17th Sports Carnival – KL Bar vs Royal Selangor
Club (Tan Sri Dato’ Harun Hashim Challenge Trophy)
The 17th Sports Carnival was scheduled to be
held and co-hosted during the week beginning
20.11.2006 with various games being played
culminating in the field games such as soccer,
netball, cricket and hockey being played at their
Kiara Sports Annexe on the 25.11.2006 and
followed by dinner / prize presentation. However,
due to inclement weather, the 17th series was
adjourned and subsequently re-scheduled for
26.05.2007.
As the KL Bar had only won this series once in
the past (1990), I had urged the respective
convenors to put special effort to try and win
this series despite the difficulty of facing opponents
who play the respective sports very regularly as
opposed to our members.
7 games were played in the series this year,
namely cricket, hockey, soccer, tennis, netball,
snooker and badminton with the “boat race” left
for the final night prize-presentation dinner to be
held at the RSC Kiara. The results at the time
of the dinner was 4 – 3 in favour of the KL Bar
with the KL Bar having come out tops in tennis,
netball, snooker and badminton whilst the RSC
won cricket, hockey and soccer. We therefore
intended to claim overall victory for the 17th
series. However, the RSC Sports Chairman
highlighted that since there are individual trophy for
each individual sport including for “boat race”,
the “boat race” ought to be included in the overall
score tally. They also were of the view that if the
RSC won the “boat race” and the series
therefore tied, the RSC would retain the trophy
on the basis of being defending champions.
Although we have traditionally lost to the RSC in
the “boat race” (for obvious reasons), I had no
choice but to agree to their suggestion and the
rationale for the same. We then proceeded to
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put together a scratch team of 4 men and 1 lady and
surprisingly we did defeat the RSC to win the overall
series. The individual scores were as follows :-
GAME WON
Cricket
Hockey
Soccer
Tennis
Netball
Snooker / Pool
Badminton
Boat Race
WON BY
RSC
RSC
RSC
KL Bar
KL Bar
KL Bar
KL Bar
KL Bar
SCORE
3 Wicket
1–3
2 -3
4 -3
21 – 18
4 -3
5–0
This Series is also an important event on the RSC
sports calendar and they have vowed to defeat us in
the 18th Series to be co-hosted sometime in 2008.
3.
INTER-STATE BAR TOURNAMENT
The KL Bar has traditionally emerged overall champions in Inter
State Bar tournaments organised by the Bar Council in the
past. However, the Bar Council Sports Committee has decided
to cease the Annual Inter State Bar Games and to replace it
with a quadripartite games whereby State Bar teams will be
categorised into 4 zones and various games to be played. The
KL Bar has been asked to host the first quadripartite games
and we anticipate to host the same in early 2008.
4.
HOCKEY
The KL Bar hockey team was invited to participate in an
international 7 a-side hockey tournament organised in KL in
July 2007. Despite fielding a team of mostly “aging and veteran”
lawyers, the KL Bar did well and emerged champions of the
Bowl Category.
5.
GENERAL
A volleyball court at the Bangsar Sports Complex is booked
on the 2nd and last Sunday of each month from 5.00pm to
7.00pm. Similarly, a badminton court is booked at the SBA hall
in Kampung Attap every Thursday from 6.00pm to 8.30pm.
These bookings are to enable members and pupils to play the
respective sports on a regular basis and to interact with other
members and there is active participations from both members
and pupils at these sessions.
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6. NOTE OF THANKS
I wish to place on record my thanks to all convenors for
sacrificing their time and effort in organising their respective
games. The committee also wishes to thank all donors for the
trophies and sponsorship in various forms in the past years
which greatly contributed towards the success of the various
sports activities. Last but not least, the committee thanks all
“sporting members” who have participated and supported
the various activities of the Sport Committee over the past
year. Whilst participation has increased and is encouraging
in general, it is hoped that more members in particular the
younger lawyers, will participate in the coming years’ activities.
Anand Ponnudurai
Chairperson
Sports Committee
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Young lawyers Committee
This term marked a very important milestone for the young lawyers of
the Kuala Lumpur Bar. For the 1st time since its formation in 1995,
this committee (“YLC”) became a fully-fledged committee within the
Kuala Lumpur Bar and was no longer was considered as an invitee.
The abolishing of the first limb of section 46A of the Legal Profession
Act 1978 has now, resulted in, lawyers below 7 years of practice able
to contest in the Bar Council and State Bar elections for the first time
in almost 29 years. This is indeed a tremendous achievement and a
vote of confidence in the ability of the young lawyers. Credit and deep
appreciation must also be given to the previous term office bearers
who fought hard to repeal the first limb of section 46A.
Chairperson
This term, the YLC was structured into 4 Sub-units designed to ensure
that all the needs of young lawyers were taken care off. The Sub-units
are as follows:
Lee Shih
Deputy Chairperson
(a)
Community Projects Unit – a Sub-unit designed to look
into community and welfare driven projects;
(b)
External Liaison Unit – a Sub-unit designed to engage
and promote close working relationship with other
professional bodies and organisations, universities
whether domestic or international;
(c)
Human Rights and Legal Struggles Unit – a Sub-unit designed
to look into the human rights and civil liberties issues
in Kuala Lumpur and to act as a “watchdog”; and
KL Bar Rep to NYLC
Seira Abu Bakar
(d)
Committee members
Jenny Pong Yen Nee
Francesca Phillip
Cynthia Chan Huey Ming
Marie Soong Mei Yee Madelene Tan
Sheryl Tan Benjamin Sathyanandam
Zainurazira Zainal
Sarah Kambali
Sandesh Kabir Singh
Tan Pei Lyn
Practice Management Unit – a Sub-unit designed to look into practice issues affecting young lawyers and
to ensure that young lawyers are able to equipped to
face the demands of the legal profession.
At this stage, and before I report on the various activities carried out by
the YLC, I feel that it would only be appropriate to express my gratitude
to the lawyers (and unit members) that have been extremely pivotal in
ensuring that the activities of the YLC were so successfully executed.
Their passion, dedication and enthusiasm know no boundaries and
are a testament that the future of the Bar in general is extremely positive
and bright indeed.
Sub-unit Heads
Lai Chee Hoe
Vincent Tey
Janet Chai
Sunil Lopez
Chris Soon
Dinesh Nair
R Ragunanthanan
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
The following individuals: Janet Chai, Vincent Tey, Lai Chee Hoe and
Sunil Lopez performed their tasks and responsibilities as sub-unit
chairs so remarkably well. I must also thank Benjamin Sathyanandam
and Fareez Jinnah for producing great video promos of the YLC activities,
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Patricia Woo
Patrick Lim Tow Chai
Elaine Yap
Ng Su-San
Athena Ang
Farez Jinnah
Foo Yueh Jiin
Noreen Ariff
R. Mogana Das
Nur Hidayah
Ruth Maran
Tracy Hah
Joshua Kevin
Richard Wee T S
Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal
James Ding Tse Wen
Alan Teoh
Tiffany Heah
Edmund Bon
Tay Choon Howe
Alicia Tan May Sien
Jonathan Lim
Joshinae Wong
Chong Wai Kuan
Chian Huey
Choo Dee Wei
Tan Siok Keng
Yip Huen Weng
See Xien
Mohd Razlan
and Seira Abu Bakar for liaising as the YLC representative to the National
Young Lawyers Committee. Last, but not the least, my trusted and ever
reliable deputy, Lee Shih, who has been instrumental in ensuring
that, despite the hectic calendar, the YLC continued to carry out its
activities in an organised and dynamic fashion for the benefit of the
younger members of the KL Bar. His independence and untiring
efforts throughout the year have certainly made my job without doubt,
easier.
I also wish to thank the KLBC members and the Chairman who were,
by and large, supportive of the activities carried out by the YLC and
indeed Ms Melissa Dass, the Executive Officer in charge of the YLC for
her tireless behind the scenes work.
ACTIVITIES
1. “Open Day” at the new Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on
17.04.2007
The Practice Management Unit of the YLC organised an
informal ‘Open Day’ for, mainly its young members, at the new
Kuala Lumpur Court Complex in Jalan Duta.
The ‘Open Day’ was attended by approximately 150 members
and pupils-in-chambers. Also in attendance were the President
and Treasurer of the Malaysian Bar and the objective of this
‘Open Day’ was to allow members and pupils in chambers to
familiarise themselves with the layout of the new court complex
and its surroundings areas.
2.
Observation of R Subashini v. T Saravanan at the Federal
Court in Putrajaya on 14.05.2007
The aforementioned case was one of major public interest
and of constitutional importance. As such, the Human Rights
Unit decided to organise a visit to the Palace of Justice to
witness the application for leave to appeal on 14.05.2007 at the
Federal Court, Putrajaya. A total of 6 young lawyers attended
the hearing on that day. The aim of the observation was to
create awareness among young lawyers on matters of constitutional
importance.
3.
Talk on “Global Legal Opportunities” on 16.05.2007
The Practice Management Unit organised a talk on “Global Legal
Opportunities” by Penny Carey, an Associate Dean with the
University of Hertfordshire. Approximately 68 lawyers attended
the Talk which was aimed at creating awareness on global legal
trends and the future of the legal profession. Indeed, the
topic was highly relevant, as it addressed a hot topic affecting
the legal practice i.e. the liberalisation of the Malaysian legal
service in the face of globalisation.
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4.
Social Event with members of other professional bodies – 25.05.2007
The External Liaison Unit organised an informal get-together
with members of various other disciplines namely the pharmacists,
engineers and company secretaries at Souled Out, Desa Sri
Hartamas. This event, although informal was also held to discuss
the formation of a Young Professionals Alliance.
5.
KL Bar Idol 2007 and Charity Nite 2007 on 29.06.2007
The Community Projects Unit organised the most happening
charity event in the Kuala Lumpur Bar calendar. This year was
indeed historic as the YLC raised a record sum in excess of
RM35,000.00 for charity. The event also saw a record attendance
of 550 people packing into Maison. Yet another feather in
the YLC cap is that for the first time, young lawyers from four
states: Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Malacca and Johor jointly helped
organised the West Coast Charity Nite at the abovementioned
locations on the same day. It was truly a memorable event
and the working together of young lawyers from the different
states showcased the abilities of young lawyers. The KL event
was also attended by members of the Singapore YLC.
All the proceeds from the night would be donated to the two
adopted charities, the Sri Shenbagavali Asram Home, a home
for underprivileged children and old folks, as well as the
Persatuan Dialisis Touch Petaling Jaya, a haemodialysis centre
set up to cope with the increasing number of end-stage renal
failure patients.
The highlight of this year’s Charity Nite was the 2nd edition
of the Kl Bar Idol. This year saw four female finalists:
Chryshantini Niles (Shook Lin & Bok), Suhaizah (Raja Darryl
& Loh), Nur Hidayah (Zaid Ibrahim & Co) and Ruth Garnet Maran
(Skrine) took to the stage and sang their hearts out in front
of an appreciative audience. The Idol finalists had been
rehearsing hard for weeks with the All-Lawyer Band. The YLC
owes so much to the very charitable minded lawyers of the
KL Bar and the finalists (including the 2 “guest singers” Ng
Yoke Mui and Fahri Azzat) who helped raise so much money
for charity. Unfortunately, and these things do happen, there
could only be one winner and Chryshantini Niles was crowned
KL Bar Idol 2007 for having raised the most money for charity.
6.
Visit to the Universities and Private Law Colleges
The External Liaison Sub-unit together with the Pupils Welfare
Committee visited the various universities and private law colleges
this term:
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
(a)
Kemayan –ATC on 08.09.2007;
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(b)
Universiti Malaya- 15.09.2007; and
(c)
University ITM - 22.09.2007
The purpose of these visits was to manage the expectations of law students (mainly final
year law students) as they are on the verge of coming out into pupillage and practice. The
Visits were designed to give these law students an idea on what to expect after graduation,
expectations of employers, how to apply for pupillage places and career options open to
them. It was indeed an eye opener for the law students as well as the YLC members as it
enabled both to understand the expectations of each other. It is the aim of this Sub-unit to
visit more universities and private colleges in the coming term.
7.
The ‘Aid Legal Aid’ Project
The Aid Legal Aid project was a campaign to promote legal aid amongst lawyers in the
month of September. The month of September was designated as the Aid Legal Aid (A.L.A.)
month. The objective of the project was to create awareness about legal aid amongst lawyers
and to publicise the dire need for volunteers to assist the legal aid centre. This project included the
distribution of Aid Legal Aid badges and the posting of Aid Legal Aid posters in Court. The
project lasted one month and lawyers were encouraged to wear the Aid Legal Aid badge
for the duration of the month as a sign of support. Special dispensation to do so was
requested and obtained from Court enabling lawyers to wear this badge.
The Human Rights Unit hopes that the A.L.A campaign, while designed to run for only one
month, will garner more interest with all lawyers alike. The Human Rights Unit will be working
with the Legal Aid Centre KL to explore other ways of ensuring a better participation
of lawyers in legal aid matters.
8.
Walk For Justice on 26.09.2007
The Human Rights Unit was heavily involved at the planning and execution stages of this
event which was spearheaded by the Bar Council Human Rights Committee. This event
showcased a successful participation of all lawyers committed to a free and independent
judiciary.
9.
Majlis Berbuka Puasa at Uncle Don, Plaza Damas on 03.10.2007
About 30 lawyers and friends, including fellow members from the Selangor Bar, came
together to celebrate the breaking of fast and at the same time to meet and catch up with
colleagues and other members of the KL Bar. Saudara Amir Mursyidi got the proceedings under
way with a reading of doa to mark the breaking of the fast and all those present were all
treated to a scrumptious array of mouth watering briyani accompanied by generous
portions of chicken, mutton, satay and ketupat. Not forgetting too was that the food was
washed down with sweet air sirap bandung, teh tariks and fruit juices.
The Majlis Berbuka Puasa organised by the YLC was more than marking the breaking of
fast for the day. It provided an opportunity for all lawyers and their friends irrespective of
belief and persuasion to come together, celebrate an auspicious event and at the same time
meet old friends and update themselves in the process on the latest happenings at the Bar.
The occasion itself was a perfect opportunity to showcase our strengths and diversity and that
by giving and sharing, we can continue to make this country a better place for the future.
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10.
Formation of Young Professionals Alliance (“YPA”) on 17.11.2007@ the Si Khiong Star
Mercedes Benz Autohaus
The YLC led the way in the formation of the YPA on 17.11.2007. The YPA was officially
launched by Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports and featured
the coming together of many professional bodies. In particular, YPA was formed with
professionals from the engineering, pharmaceutical, company secretarial and the legal
profession. There were also professionals from other bodies who came to support this
event, namely psychologists, surveyors and chemists who have all expressed keen interest
in joining the YPA. The YPA is a body consisting of young professionals from different professional
institutions in Malaysia. The main aims of the Alliance are the strengthening of ties among
professionals, the sharing of knowledge among its members, as well as the pooling of
resources in order to serve the community at large. The YPA is also non political, non religious
and is open to all professionals.
It is expected that the YPA will play a larger role in the development of young professionals in
this country. The YLC is committed to the YPA as it is an excellent platform to ensure that
young lawyers continue to strive and excel themselves in a strong and vibrant environment
and at the same time uphold the ideals of the Bar. This event was also jointly supported by
the KL Bar Pupils Welfare Committee.
11.
Investigation of complaints on the Sessions Court in Semenyih Immigration Centre
The Human Right Unit, working with the Legal Aid Centre KL, carried out an assessment
of the Sessions Court (Criminal Division) at the Semenyih Immigration Detention Camp in
respect of violations of the rights of accused persons and procedural irregularity of proceedings.
Members of the HRU volunteered to assist by attending and observing court proceedings at
the aforementioned Sessions Court. The observers from the HRU noted that that the Court
was overloaded with cases. There were too many cases scheduled for mention for one
Court to accommodate. It was also noted that almost all of the accused persons were without
legal representation and they were generally treated with disdain by the detention camp
staff and the Court police officers. The detainees/accused were made to squat outside Court.
After their cases were disposed with, they were taken outside the Court and their arms were
marked with permanent ink markers by the camp staff/court police officers
12.
Walk for Justice Part 2: The Walk is Over, Now its time to talk
This was a forum organised by the Human Right Unit for among other things, to discuss the
state of the Malaysian Judiciary. The forum began with the KL Bar YLC Chair, giving a brief
overview of the Bar’s stand on the recording of the video clip of a phone conversation
purportedly featuring a senior lawyer. The forum consisted of speeches by Dr. Azmi Sharom,
Associate Professor at the University of Malaya and Haris Ibrahim, Richard Wee Thiam Seng
reading an excerpt from “May Day for Justice” and Fahri Azzat, reciting two poems.
The audience comprising of members of the public and civil society groups, recognised the
perilous state of the Judiciary and re-affirmed that steps must be taken to ensure
that the Judiciary remains free and fair to all and no external influence is present.
Whilst the Royal Commission set up is most welcomed indeed, an Independent
Commission for the Appointment and Promotion of Judges would be a strong indication
of the government’s desire to ensure that the Judiciary remained independent and
public confidence restored.
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13.
Obser vation of the BERSIH rally on10.11.2007
Members of the Human Rights Unit assisted the Bar Council Human Rights Committee
during the BERSIH rally on 10.11.2007 by acting as observers at the rally and rendering
assistance at the IPK KL where a number of participants of the Rally who were arrested
had been taken to.
The YLC hopes to achieve much more next term. Various projects are already in the
offing and in the planning stages. The YLC aims to be a complete committee looking
into the needs of not only young lawyers but all lawyers in general. I must also record
my deep appreciation to the National Young Lawyers Committee and its Chair for being
ever so supportive and providing the necessary advice during the execution of our
activities.
I have no doubt that with a strong YLC, the future of the KL Bar looks bright and positive. I
hope to see more lawyers come to the forefront with a goal of serving the Bar and providing
support to the various committees whilst ensuring that the objectives of the KL Bar are
met. Dipendra Harshad Rai
Chairperson
Young Lawyers Committee
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Bar Council Legal Aid Centre
(Kuala Lumpur)
The Panel
INTRODUCTION
The year 2007 has been a hectic year for the Bar Council Legal Aid
Centre (Kuala Lumpur). New events have taken place resulting in
unceasing demand for our assistance. The Centre in short has been
a bustling beehive of activities. We have attempted to deal with the
various challenges in the best possible manner given our limited
resources. Now is the time to evaluate our work in progress.
Ravi Nekoo
Chairperson
Honorary Secretary
Alexis Diana
Assistant Honorary Secretary
Latheefa Koya
Treasurer
Harleen Kaur
Members
K M Nachammai
Nik Nurul Atiqah Nik Yusof
Ellysyeliza Mat Desa
N Sivanesan
Ramesh Lachmanan
M Moganambal
Selva Rani Thiyagarajah
Magesan R Ayavoo
Nicholas Netto
R. Ragunanthanan
Sivarasa Rasiah
Saravana Kumar
Puspawati Rosman
Abd Shukor Tokachil
Sukhvinder Kaur Chahl
Ravinder Singh Dhaliwal
Preetam Kaur
So Chien Hao
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
During the year the Centre has assisted 15,105 clients, by giving legal
advise, representation and legal intervention through its various ongoing
programs. That is 50% more compared to the previous year when we
had attended to 10,062 clients. (Please refer to attached statistics on
programs). The persons assisted include 1,804 walk-in clients under the LAC and
Syariah clinics, 1,679 persons interviewed in prisons, 4,200 detainees
assisted under the Dock Brief Program and thousands of migrant
workers under the LAC/Tenaganita Program. The BCLAC (KL) also
assisted hundreds of persons through its clinics in partnership with
NGO’s such as AWAM, WAO, SIS, UNHCR and PTF.
A total of 399 files were opened during the year of which 288 have
been assigned. The Centre has also encouraged the use of legal
intervention to resolve cases in a direct and effective manner. To date
32 cases have been recorded.
The Centre continues to maintain its close relationship with its NGO
partners such as All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Women’s Aid
Organisation (WAO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), Tenaganita, Pink Triangle
Foundation (PTF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and their input is helpful in giving the Management Panel a
different perspective on certain issues.
In the year 2007, the Centre also saw the birth of a new group of
young lawyers called “Legal AIDERS”. The “Legal AIDERS” are a
group of energetic, talented and enthusiastic lawyers eager to assist
the BCLAC (KL) and its various activities and programs (refer to Legal
Awareness committee report).
Year 2007 also saw our “Urgent Arrest” Team extremely busy attending to several public interest litigation. Unlike 2006 when eviction matters took the forefront of public interest litigation, in 2007 the
BCLAC(KL) has to lend assistance to those who were arrested for having
participated in illegal assemblies. Lawyers who heard of these arrests
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were present in IPK(KL) and Pulapol from noon to dawn to do the remand hearing. Lawyers also
turned up in the Selayang Courts and Kuala Lumpur Courts to assist the clients. The pupils too were
in the thick of action talking to clients and getting as much particulars as they can to assist the
lawyers in the bail application. It was amazing to see the lawyers attending to the clients. They just
prodded on selflessly without giving names or reacting to plaudits. Their commitment was exemplary. To all of these volunteer lawyers and pupils who joined us in assisting the clients, we extend
our heartfelt appreciation.
The BCLAC (KL) in addition to its regular service programs also carries out and is involved in various
other programs and activities, such as:
Education – Besides legal advice and representation, many persons have been made aware of the
law and their legal rights through educational and outreach programs conducted by BCLAC (KL). The BCLAC (KL) has conducted more than 10 programs in schools and organised talks in several
communities including marginalised communities such as sex workers and transsexuals who have
been informed and made aware of their legal rights. The BCLAC (KL) has also through TV3’s reality
show “Nescafe Kick Start” and ASTRO’s “Sattam” advertised its services and educated the public
on legal aid.
Liaison Building – The BCLAC (KL) in 2007 also felt the importance in networking and liaison building
with other groups and organisations. The main purpose of the networking was to give better quality
service to clients. Among the groups the BCLAC (KL) met with and discussed better working
relationship were the Welfare Department, Prisons Authorities, Police Districts Officers, Biro Bantuan
Guaman, Malaysian Aids Council, International Red Cross, Myanmar and Nepalese Workers
Support Groups, Shelter, PS The Children, Women Centre for Change, and SUARAM. Law Reform – The BCLAC (KL) has taken some steps to be involved in law reform initiatives. In April
2007 together with the Immigration Committee of the Bar Council the Centre undertook a five day
observation and monitoring of the Semenyih detention courts. The Centre also attended and gave
its input in a round-table conference called by SUHAKAM to discuss with all relevant government
agencies, the issues of prison conditions and overcrowding. Talks and negotiations are ongoing
with prisons and welfare authorities on the issue of proper rehabilitation programs for juveniles in
prisons and remand homes. In addition, cases involving eviction of settlers have been challenged
in the courts, in an attempt to push for reforms in this area. Currently the BCLAC (KL) in the process
of drafting a new legal aid bill for the country.
Attachment Students – The Centre’s attachment program has grown over the years. Students
from public and private universities such as UM, IIUM, Taylor’s and HELP frequently visit and do
attachment programs with BCLAC (KL). Students also come from Monash and other universities.
BCLAC (KL) Website – The LAC Website has now been registered and is in the process of web-page
construction. (www.legalaidkl.org).
We would like to emphasise that what we have achieved to date would not have been possible had
it not for the tremendous support of the many dedicated volunteer lawyers and pupils. We believe
that with greater support from members of the Bar Council and KL Bar the Centre would be able to
scale to greater heights and provide assistance, create and promote awareness, and provide legal
aid to more deserving and marginalised members of the public.
The following pages set out the various reports from the various sub-committees which show the
range of activities that were undertaken and carried out this year.
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Finally, we take this opportunity to thank all the volunteer lawyers, our NGO partners, Project Heads,
pupils and staff who have given us their support and assisted us in fulfilling our objectives. We hope
to once again work together in the year 2008 and future years and fulfill our social obligations to
the people.
Thank you.
Ravi Nekoo
Chairperson B.
STATISTICS 2007
BAR COUNCIL LEGAL AID CENTRE (KUALA LUMPUR)
STATISTICS (JANUARY – DECEMBER 2007)
CLIENT STATISTICS : SUMMARY 2007
Clinic/Programme
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Sungai Buloh Prison :
* Malaysian clients
* Migrant clients
Kajang Women Prison
Kajang Women Migrant Prison
Kajang Men Prison
Kajang Men Migrant Prison
Juvenile Remand Home
Dock Brief
LAC/Syariah Clinic
SIS
AWAM
PTF
WOA
Tenaganita
UNHCR
Public Interest Cases
TOTAL
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Clients
2005
1294
(876)
(418)
181
153
Clients
2006
1285
(1010)
(275)
200
84
121
5216
1898
523
571
87
102
998
11144
77
4714
1808
568
493
82
166
585
10062
LEGAL AID
Clients JanDec 2007
1093
(764)
(329)
139
88
217
26
116
4200
1804
673
387
10
173
2350
3360
469
15105
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C.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1.
LAC CLINIC
Report prepared by: Project Head, Nachammai Kumarappan
Committee Members:
Nachammai Kumarappan
Alexis Diana Ahmad Ridza Jayaletchumi Rajaretnam
Molly Gomez-Kerisnan
Kalaiichelvii Ramesh Lachmanan
Introduction
The Legal Aid Centre Clinic (“LAC Clinic”) has been operating since 1983 at the secretariat to cater
for members of public who walk-in to the LAC Clinic. The Clinic provides free legal advice for those
qualifying under the means test, legal awareness, render legal representation and legal intervention.
The LAC Clinic is supervised and managed by a group of volunteer lawyers under the LAC Clinic
committee. The LAC Committee met 4 times and ironed out some administrative problems faced
by the LAC Clinic. The LAC Clinic operates from Mondays to Fridays based at Legal Aid Centre, (KL)
from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm.
The Clientele (walk-in clients) comparison between 2006 and 2007 are as follows:NO
1
2
YEAR
2006
2007
NO OF CLIENTS
1586 (as at 8/12/06)
1580 (as at 6/12/07)
The Clientele (legal representation rendered) comparison between 2006 and 2007 are as follows:NO
1
2
YEAR
2006
2007
NO OF CLIENTS
244 (as at 8/12/06)
326 (as at 6/12/07)
The Legal Intervention
This year saw a decrease in cases involving legal intervention where our pupils went to police station.
NO
1.
YEAR
2006
2.
2007
TOTAL NUMBERS NO OF PUPILS
PARTICIPATED AREAS VISITED
51 cases
80 pupils
Police, MPJ, Labour Dept, Asrama Sentul,
JKM, Industrial Relations Dept, Magistrate/
Session/Traffic/Denmark Ct, Banks, Tanah
Selangor, Amanah Raya
32 cases
60 pupils
Police, JPN, HUKM, Labour Dept., Magistrate
Courts The Committee/Volunteer Lawyers/Pupils
There has been no increase in the lawyers volunteering to supervise the pupils and also take up cases especially criminal. As such we appeal to lawyers to come forth and volunteer themselves.
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We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our pupils, staff and handful of volunteer
lawyers who help to manage this short fall.
The Pupils Training
The entire committee took part actively in the training program with help of LAC officers on a rotation
basis where by two committee members supervised the training each time.
We are indebted to our volunteer lawyers ( who not in the committee) such as Mr. D M Rao, Mr.
Muhendaran, Dato’ Manpal Singh and Mr. Rabinder Singh who so graciously gave up their precious
spare time for the Clinic and came in to train our pupils.
Liaison Building
The Clinic managed to network with various government agencies.
1.
Meeting with Welfare Department (KL) – 18th May 2007
it was successful with referrals was made with the JKM departments
2.
Meeting with Biro Bantuan Guaman – 8th May 2007
it was attended by officers from BBG and network been implemented especially outreach clinic-
3.
Nescafe Kickstart by Derek Chong by TV3
The LAC Clinic also participated in this reality show where the contestant Derek Chong participated
and place Mobile Legal Clinic as his ideal job. During this time LACKL was highlighted in
the National Television so many times. Nachammai, Sa’adiah, Ravi Nekoo, Amer Hamzah,
Edward Saw and Edmund Bon were involved in this program. 4.
Meeting with the Police Authorities
it was very successful with meeting IPD Sentul and IPD Cheras
The Outreach Clinic
The committee for year 2007 decided not to hold any outreach clinic for communities since we are
overwhelmed with the School Program.
The below are the report for the program:
REPORT ON LAC CLINIC SCHOOL PROJECT
Report prepared by: Kalaiichelvii & Chitrah
The Legal Aid Centre Clinic School Program (“LAC Clinic School Program”) had been providing both
legal and social awareness to school students via the seminar titled “Ceramah Perundangnan &
Implikasi Sosial Terhadap Murid-Murid Sekolah Menengah” for the past 5 years. Year 2007, the
committee received again a standard blanket letter from the Education Ministry with terms stipulated
henceforth.
Initially when we started the project we obtained lawyers to speak on laws such as Family law,
Employment Law, Domestic Violence and Criminal Law. However the school teachers had requested
the then organising committee to change and make the program participatory with interesting social
issues. Hence, we made inroads with the Attorney General Chambers (AG), Police Diraja Malaysia,
Lawyers, Sports Personalities, Ex-Student from Respective School, Real Life Sharing, HIV/AIDS
awareness, Relationship, Gender & Sex and other issues which affect students. We also imparted
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games and Q & A with some token of appreciation to students who took part actively.
The pioneer program was accepted well by school heads, counseling teachers and students.
Subsequently, the demand increased with teachers talking about the program in their meeting
among counselors. The committee members also pay personal visits to schools to impart and gain
their trust among the counseling teachers and the school heads. For the past 2 years the program
was a hot selling cake however we lack of trainers to facilitate the current demand. The new program
was well accepted by students and schools as it covers both legal and social aspects. The 2007
year, we managed to embark into new schools such as SMK Maxwell, Jalan Sultan Ismail, SMK
Convent, Sentul, SMK Methodist Sentul and SMK Seri Mutiara, Cheras. This year we managed to conduct 10 sessions (SMK Methodist Sentul-3 slots, SMK Maxwell-2
slots, SMK Seri Mutiara-2 slots, SMK La Salle-1, SMK Taman Connought-1, SMK Convent-1). The
project equally received quality support from the Jabatan Peguam Negara (Putrajaya) who has been
nominating few DPP to deliver talks to the respective schools, the Polis Diraja Malaysia namely IPD
Sentul and IPD Cheras also pledge their support. The encouragement was also highly maintained
by participation of senior ex-students from respective schools who are currently successful in their life.
The sports personalities also supported our program and share their self disciplines and determination
which made them popular. The committee also maintained a strong relationship with PT Foundation
whereby they send their officers to share and educate on HIV/AIDS & STI awareness among the
students.
The List of Speakers Involved in the School Program year 2007
DATES
10/4/07, 30/4/07, 14/6/07, 6/8/07, 8/8/07,
11/8/07, 4/9/07, 10/10/07, 22/10/07, 23/10/07
AG’S CHAMBERS PUAN NOORIN BADARUDDIN, PUAN RAJA ROZELA
RAJA TORAN, PUAN ASMAH MUSA, TUAN DEVANANDAN
S SUBRAMANIAM, PUAN NURULHUDA NUR’AINI,
PUAN EVAWANI FARISYTA (twice she did)
POLICE
DSP TAN YAN THIAN (IPD SENTUL), ASP GULAM
RASSID KHAN (IPD SENTUL), ASP NASRI (IPD
CHERAS), C/I CHANDERAN SEGARAN (IPD CHERAS),
INSP DEEN JONATHAN (IPD SENTUL)
LAWYERS
KALAIICHELVII, ALEXIS DIANA, NACHAMMAI , JAG
RAMACHANDRAN, WAN AZMIR BIN WAN MAJID,
RAGUNANTHANAN,
NGO
HISHAM HUSSEIN, MARHALEM, SHAHRUDDIN,
KISHEN, JAMALIAH, ROSLAN, ROSLAN (MAC), WONG
LAI CHENG, MAZNAH IBRAHIM, ABIGAIL DEVRIES
(AWAM, PTF, WAKE, PS THE CHILDREN)
INDIVIDUALS
AMARJIT KAUR, THOMAS SAMUELS, GANGA DEVI SPORTS
VASANTHA MARIAL ANTHONY, G I YAAMINII, SHEKAR
MARIMUTHU, PAVITHRAN PRATABAN, THOMAS
SAMUELS, JAMALIAH JALALUDDIN
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10 days
6 DPP
5 POLICE OFFICERS
6 LAWYERS
10 MEMBERS
3 MEMBERS
6 MEMBERS
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2.
SYARIAH CLINIC
Report prepared by Project Head
Committee Members
Nik Nurul Atiqah Binti Nik Yusof (Project Head)
Sabrina Ali Binti Mohamad Ashfar
Ellysyeliza Binti Mohd Desa
Mohd Hafiizh Mohd @ Ghazali
Aims of the Syariah Clinic is to provide free legal service to the public in need and to give them
better understanding on the principle and procedures of Syariah Laws besides to assist them in
getting proper assistance and fair trial from the respective Syariah Court.
The Syariah Clinic operates from the Secretariat and opens to members of public from Monday to
Friday at 10.00 am - 4.30 pm. The Syariah Clinic at the Centre is manned by pupils in chambers
completing their legal aid service which is part of the Bar Council Ruling in Legal Aid Service. Each
pupil is assigned once a week duty over a period of three (3) months.
The pupils in chambers are given a half-day training focusing on the Syariah Civil and Criminal Law
and Procedures. They have also undergone a one-day training with Legal Aid Clinic providing them
with a basic training on interviewing techniques as well as taking part in discussion on criminal,
employment and family related laws.
The LAC Clinic runs alongside the Syariah Clinic. Besides interviewing syariah clients, the pupils are
also assisting in interviewing civil clients. Their duties include interviewing walk-in clients, conducting means
test and giving advice an appropriate advice when required upon due clarification with Volunteer
Lawyer and/or practicing Syariah Lawyers. It is our utmost belief that there is a need for us to
provide this service to anyone who falls within the means test as well as to protect his or her interest
in the Syariah Court.
Even though the number of public requesting for our services and advice is still small compared to
other Legal Aid Clinics but the numbers are increasing and not limited to female clients as there
are a number of male clients who approached the Syariah Clinics to get our advice and legal
representation in some matters related to divorce procedures including fasakh application which
was filed by their wife, rights after marriage such as custody, hadhanah and matrimonial application,
intestacy matters and execution proceedings.
In conjunction with the Law Awareness Week under the theme of “Hak Generasi Baru”, the Committe
had organised a down to earth programme located at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur on
2nd September, 2007 by the name of “Riadah & Didik” with the main activity was to distribute legal
leaflets and pamphlets (which also includes the introduction to Bar Council Legal Aid Centre) of
which we have successfully approached our main target groups i.e.“Mat & Minah Rempit” .
Our hope that in the forthcoming years, we will able to conduct more awareness programme in educating
the publics on their rights entrusted under the Syariah Law and Principles and to introduce the
available services offered by the clinics to the public in need.
We would also extend our thanks to the Management Panel, Staff of Legal Aid Centre, Syariah
Committee Members, the Volunteer Lawyers and Syariah Practitioners, participating pupils and
also volunteers participating pupils for their interest, commitment and endless support in running
the Syariah Clinic smoothly.
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3.
DOCK BRIEF PROGRAM
Report prepared by Dock Brief Committee
Committee Members
Selva Rani Thiyagarajan (Project Head)
Ragunanthanan. R (Secretary) Wan Hidayati Nadirah Wan Ahmad Nasir
Vivian Victor Magesan (Alternate Project Head)
Henry Ngok Heng Hui
Nicholas Netto
Shirdieswaran Thangarajah
Introduction
The Dock Brief Programme consist of batches of about 70 pupils on an alternate basis who are
required to provide legal services such as mitigation of sentences, bail applications and remand
matters for free. We are currently covering 7 Magistrates Criminal courts, a Child court and Magistrate
Court 10.
The Dock Brief Committee has carried out various activities such as :-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Practical training for the incoming batch of Dock Brief pupils by holding it on Saturdays
Revamp of the training manual
A successful dialogue session with the Judiciary
Dock Brief groups being adopted by committee members for supervision purposes
Preparation of brochures for dissemination of information on Dock Brief services.
Invitation to Senior Practitioner to brief pupils during training
Ad-hoc supervision by committee members
Recommendations:
-
-
To recruit more volunteers
To continue the rapport with the Judiciary.
4.
SG BULOH, KAJANG WOMEN AND MIGRANT PRISON CLINIC, KAJANG JUVENILE PRISON AND JUVENILE REMAND HOME CLINIC
Report prepared by Project Head
Committee Members
Sivanesan Nadarajah (Project Head)
Moganambal Samynathan Bernard Francis
Nurshafini Musthafa Ramesh Lachmanan (Alternate Project Head)
Kamalam
Letchemanan
G Nanda Goban
Daniel Abhisheegam
Introduction
The Clinic has been running the Sungai Buloh Prison Clinic (“SBP”) since December1997, the Sungai
Buloh Migrant Prison (“SBMP”) since May 2004, the Kajang Women Prison (“KWP”) since mid
2000, the Kajang Women Migrant Prison (“KWMP”) since September 2003, the Juvenile Remand
Home (“JRH”) Programme since 2001 and the Kajang Juvenile Prison (“KJP”) since 2007. In early
March 2005 all the six Prison Clinics ie SBP, SBMP, KWP, KWMP, KJP, JRH were grouped under one
programme.The Legal Aid Centre also collaborates with the Selangor Legal Aid Centre ( “ Selangor
LAC”) by having the pupils from Selangor LAC to participate in the Sungai Buloh Prison Clinic since
June 2005.
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Summary of the Programme
The Programme is conducted every three months and comprises of approximately 27 chambering
pupils from Kuala Lumpur and 6-10 pupils from Selangor LAC, grouped into teams headed by one
or two supervising lawyers who visit the various prisons and the JRH every fortnight to interview the
persons under remand. The pupils under the Programme , who are suitably trained and equipped,
also conduct the following follow up action at the legal Aid Centre:
(a)
contact family members on matters related to bail and legal representation;
(b)
refer relevant cases to the Dock Brief Programme, the respective state Legal Aid Centres or
for capital offences cases to the Court Assigned Counsel Scheme; and,
(c)
liaise with volunteer lawyers on the status of the files.
(d)
liaise with the respective Embassies concerning foreign nationals remanded in the Prisons;
(e)
refer cases involving inmates from other states to the respective state Bar Council Legal Aid
Centres for the their action.
The statistics in respect of the matters handled/processed is shown in Section B of the Annual
Report - Statistics 2007.
Activities
The following main activities were carried out for the year under review:(a)
a meeting was held between members of the Prison Committee and the Director of Kajang
Prison and his officers on 23-05-2007 to discuss several issues pertaining to the smooth
operation of the Programme with the collaboration of the Prison authorities. Of particular
concern was the large number of juveniles remanded at Kajang Prison and efforts needed
to address the matter;
(b)
in the continuing efforts to strengthen the ties with the various authorities, a get together
dinner, organised by the BCLAC (KL) Prison Programme Committee, was held on 25-072007 at the Lake Club Kuala Lumpur between the BCLAC (KL) and officers from Sungai
Buluh Prison, Kajang Prison, Kajang Women’s Prison, Asrama Sentosa, Sek Tunas Bakti
Sg Besi Remand Home and the Welfare Department;
(c)
during the Law Awareness Week held between 1-9 September 2007, the Committee organised
a session with 23 juveniles at the Asrama Sentosa Sentul.
The primary activity of the Committee is to ensure that enough volunteer lawyers are made available
to accept the various briefs. In this context priority was given to court assigned cases and to cases
were the detainee has been in remand for more than six months. A major concern in this regard is
to ensure that the pool of volunteer lawyers is expanded so that more cases may be assigned.
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5.
LAC/AWAM LEGAL INFORMATION SERVICE CLINIC
Report prepared by AWAM Committee
Committee Members
Sharmini Thiruchelvam
Foo Li Mei, Michelles Mary Manickam
Raymond Tan
AWAM Representatives
Honey Tan
Stefeny David
Vasanthi Clement
Hanita Naliane
Betty Yeoh
The Clinic
The clinic is run in co-operation with a voluntary, non-profit and non-government women’s organisation,
All Women’s Action Society (AWAM). AWAM established the TELENITA phone counseling service in
1990. Partly as a result of AWAM success in raising public awareness about violence against women
issues, AWAM began to receive a growing number of calls in relation to women and children who
had been abused/violated. Demand for this service continued to rise, and AWAM later expanded
services assistance to include face-to-face counseling and legal information services as well. The
clinic has been going on since September 1994 as many women whom have contacted TELENITA
wanted legal advice but did not know how to get the information and were even not aware of their
legal rights. It was from here that the idea to hold weekly legal clinic begun. The clinic provides legal
advice and assistance on family matters both civil and Syarie, domestic violence, sexual
harassment, sexual abuse and other matters relating to women. The clinic is open from every
Mondays to Saturdays from 10.00 am to 4.30pm at the AWAM Centre in Petaling Jaya. In this clinic,
pupils are required to fulfill their duty at AWAM as part of the legal aid program for the period of 3 months.
Joint Training Programme
This year, joint training program for the pupils was extended to two days. The first day training is on
gender sensitisation by the Joint Action Group (JAG) of AWAM/WAO/SIS. The training program has
been revamped to include feminist and gender equality concepts. The main objective of these new
concepts is to sensitise young lawyers on gender equality and feminist perspectives of law.
Role-plays have been implemented in order to improve pupil’s communication skills, as pupils are
not allowed to provide counseling service to clients, as they are not trained counselors. On the day
two the training is on civil family law and domestic violence procedure conducted by LAC/AWAM
Committee volunteer lawyers and staff from AWAM/WAO. During the family law training and domestic
violence talks, the pupils participate in the case presentation, which is supervised and facilitated
by the speakers. These sessions will ensure that pupils would be able to apply the relevant law after
hearing the theory and they are placed in a situation of applying the law.
The amended program gives pupils a better and clearer understanding of issues and perspectives.
Beside that, pupils also realise that there are loopholes in law as well as non-supportive practice by
service providers. The past year also saw male pupils participating in the Clinic, an encouragement
for the development for both sexes to work hand in hand in ending violence against women and
also in partnership with the Legal Aid Centre Selangor. Activities
This year apart from being on duty at the clinic, some of the pupils assisted in following court procedure
of well known cases involving conversion
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Other Activities whereby the chambering students assisted us in 2007
No
1
2
3
Date
30th June
8th Sep
9th Sep
Total
Activities
“Walk and Wheel” events
“National Law Awareness Week”
“Family Day for Free-scale”
Number of students
3
1
1
5
Statistics
Number of chambering students AWAM have from Jan-Dec 2007- 47 students
No
1
2
3
4
Batch
48
49
50
51
TOTAL
Date
26/2 – 26/5
21/5 – 17/8
13/8 – 10/11
5/11 – 2/2/08
Number of students
12
11
12
12
47
Cases from January to November 2007
TYPE OF CASES
Divorce (Civil)
Maintenance (Civil)
Custody (Civil)
Interim Protection Order (IPO)
Financial Problem
Kidnapping
Missing People
Rape
Divorce (Syariah)
Custody (Syariah)
Domestic Violence
Sexual Harassment
Legal
Conversion
Immigration
Others
GRAND TOTAL
TOTAL
172
19
21
4
9
4
3
4
9
7
30
23
6
5
2
69
387
As from January to November 2007, the clinic has received 387 cases with various cases as identified in the
table above.
CONCLUSION
While the legal information services carried on at the LAC/AWAM clinic, the number of cases handled
has dropped if compared year’s total of 517 cases. It was also noted, although almost all chambering
pupils attended to the clinic’s clients as per their schedule, some were more diligent and
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AWAM urges both the LACKL and LAC Selangor to send in their lawyers to monitor the cases handled
by pupils in particular and attitude of pupils in general. We thank both the LAC for the continuous
support and look forward to provide better legal information service in 2008
6.
LAC/WAO LEGAL AID CLINIC -2007
Report Prepared by Jessie Ang, WAO
Committee Members
Meera Samanthar (President)
Jessie Ang (Coordinator)
Shoba Aiyar (Social Worker Manager)
The objective of LAC/WAO clinic:
1.
To assists WAO’s social workers in the refuge with telephone calls - giving out information
on domestic violence, divorce procedure, sexual harassment and etc.
2.
To assists WAO’s clients to lodge police report and accompany the clients to hospital.
3.
To instill and to reach out to chambering students with the NGO’s work.
WAO is a non profit organisation with a policy that states that no one deserves to be battered and
in particular, WAO only chooses to work with women and their children.
WAO has been giving refuge to women and their children who were abused physically, psychological,
sexually, financially and socially for the past twenty-five years.
Besides giving support to the women, WAO is also advocating and lobbying for women’s right with
other women group.
Before the chambering students come to WAO, they will have to start their training at LAC/AWAM/
WAO/SIS Training. The syllabus includes family law, syariah law, gender sensitisation, domestic
violence, violence against women and Helping Process.
WAO take one student each from LAC-KL and LAC-Selangor from each batch. The students come
to the refuge on Monday and Friday for 12 sessions. The students who comes to the refuge not
only attending the telephone calls but also accompany WAO’s clients to the court, helping clients to
lodge a police report, giving legal advise on the phone and see face- to-face clients, documentation
of cases, going to the immigration, hospital, embassy and National Registration Department.
Besides attending to phone calls and accompany clients to various places, students also do some
research and co-facilitate discussion group with WAO’s staff on various issues to the women in the
refuge. The students who comes to the refuge not only work in the ambit of their training some of
them are willing to take out their shoes and spend their time with the women and their children.
They have lunch with the women, chatting and budding with the women. The students are very
accommodating to the needs of the women.
WAO had about 10 chambering students coming to the Refuge from December 2006 to November
2007.
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Types of calls the chambering students handle:
Domestic Violence
45
Divorce procedure
52
Maintenance 10
Custody
14
Financial Problems
8
Foreign Wife 4
Single Mother 4
Sexual Harassment 5
Problem with the Police
2
Interim Protection Order
6
Bankruptcy
4
Marital Problems
6
Housing Problems
2
Conversion to Muslim 2
Will/EPF
1
Division of Property 1
Adoption
2
Miscellaneous 5
TOTAL 173
A caller may have several problems. A chambering student attends to an average of 5 calls per day
at WAO.
7.
LAC/SIS CLINIC (Sisters in Islam)
Report Prepared by SIS
SIS Representatives
Radzlinawati Razali
Nur Fadhlin Binti Mohd Yusof
Introduction
The LAC/SIS Clinic provides free legal advice, information and aid to the public on matters regarding
Malaysian laws, especially syariah law. The pupils-in-chambers assigned to perform legal aid with
the LAC/SIS Clinic are involved with providing legal advice to clients, conducting research on legal
issues, and maintaining proper and detailed documentation of the clients’ queries. They are also
required to contact relevant bodies in aid of their clients, for example, Legal Aid Centre, Legal Aid
Bureau, the police, state religious departments, and the national registration department.
In order to equip the pupils with relevant knowledge and skills to perform legal aid in LAC/SIS
Clinic, SIS has devised a special training that pupils assigned to LAC/SIS Clinic are required to go
through. This training introduces the pupils to SIS and the work this organisation does, highlights
the differences between Malaysian syariah law vis-à-vis Malaysian civil law vis-à-vis Muslim laws as
practiced in other Muslim countries, how to handle SIS clients effectively, and what duties they are
to perform in LAC/SIS Clinic.
As of 26.11.2007, there have been a total of 673 clients of LAC/SIS Clinic. This means that each
pupil assigned to the LAC/SIS Clinic this year (a total of 12 pupils) has had to handle an average of
56 cases while performing their legal aid duty.
The pupils also get real life experience of how the law is applied when women are concerned. This is
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done in two ways: by going to observe court proceedings under a programme called ‘CourtWatch’;
and through activities jointly-conducted with other NGO Clinics.
Under the CourtWatch programme, the pupils are required to observe court proceedings, paying
close attention to two things: delay; and biasness. They then record their findings for analysis.
Under joint-activities with other NGO Clinics, SIS pupils will get broader real life experience. Whereas
before they are mostly confined to deal with syariah cases, the pupils will now get to see how other
laws are applied in real life situations, namely in domestic violence, immigration, and labour cases.
This is done by sending SIS pupils to follow pupils from other NGO clinics, namely AWAM, WAO and
Tenaganita, to relevant bodies. Such bodies include immigration departments, embassies, labor offices
and industrial relations departments, shelter homes, welfare departments, syariah judiciary, police
stations, and ministry or MP service centers.
SIS pupils are also encouraged to take part in activism and outreach events, for example, operating
an exhibition booth during the Law Awareness Week (8.9.2007) organised by the Selangor Legal
Aid Centre, and leafleting on International Right To Know Day (28.9.2007) organised by the Centre
for Independent Journalism.
Strengths
1.
2.
3.
4.
Performing legal aid with LAS/SIS Clinic helps to sensitise the pupils as to issues, especially
legal issues faced by women and children, namely Muslim women and children;
The LAC/SIS Clinic is an effective venue to address the public’s concerns with regard to
their legal rights;
The data obtained from the LAC/SIS Clinic is useful for women’s rights activism and law
reform activities; and
The LAC/SIS Clinic highlights public interest issues, such as child maintenance, impact of
polygamous marriages, and moral policing.
Weaknesses
Lack of support from syariah practitioners to act as panel lawyers.
Suggestions
1.
2.
3.
80
Additional pupils assigned with the LAC/SIS Clinic to accommodate the increasing number
of clients;
To raise discourse with law faculties as to the curriculum the said faculties offer: many of
the pupils who come for legal aid at the LAC/SIS Clinic have little to no real life exposure as
to how law is applied in Malaysia. Some even come to the LAC/SIS Clinic with misconceptions of the law and its application; and
Build rapport with Syarie practitioners to encourage them to volunteer as panels for the
LAC/SIS Clinic.
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8.
LAC/TENAGANITA MIGRANT WORKERS CLINIC
Report Prepared by Tenaganita
Tenaganita Representaives
Aegile Fernandez
Florida
Malaysia continue to depend on foreign labour to meet its economic growth. According to the
Immigration statistic there are more than 2.2 million foreign workers and the number is growing.
57.5 per cent are from the neighboring Indonesia while 11 per sent are from Nepal, 8.8 per sent
from Bangladesh and 7 per- cent are from India. (source: NST Oct 10th 2007).It is further said that
in 2010 the country would be employing about 10 million migrant workers to meets its labour
market.
The rights of migrant workers has been continually denied in the absence of clear and define laws
and policies. Immigration continues to deny the workers the right to stay and work while waiting for
the outcome of their cases.
The most number of complaints filed at Tenaganita are related to employment, not in possession of
documents , non renewal of work permits and abuses. Beginning this year, Tenaganita has received
an alarming number of complaints from newly recruited Bangladeshi workers arriving for employment.
About 300 000 work permits were approved by the Home Ministry for Bangladeshi workers. Most
of these workers are employed through the newly introduced Out Sourcing companies. Tenaganita
received many complaints from workers of not being placed in employment as promised or being
transferred from one company to another within few weeks. Transferring these workers from one
place to another without proper work nor salaries. This as a result has left with thousand of workers
without food, water and shelter. When ever the workers demand for work and salary, the agents together with employers, threaten and beat them. At the same time, thousand of workers were left stranded at the airport on arrival, for days, as
their employers failed to receive them. Failure of employers receiving their workers at a specified
time given by Immigration, would result the workers being detained at the KLIA holding center and
subsequently being deported back to their country of origin. This decision neither addresses the
root causes issues nor holds the employers accountable. The victims are the workers, they suffer
the consequences as they have paid their entire savings, borrowed money with high interests. They
have paid up to 200,000 taka (RM12,000) to work in Malaysia. Out sourcing policies introduced by the Home Ministry in August 2006 for employment requiring
less than 50 workers . As for companies recruiting more than 50 workers they have an option of
either using an out-sourcing company or directly employing the workers. The out sourcing companies
are responsible for every aspect concerning the worker. As such the principle company does not
hold ant responsibility towards the workers. The principle company pays the wages directly to the
out -sourcing company who will than deduct their commission from the workers salaries before paying
the workers their dues. As such the out sourcing policies directly contravene the Employment Act
which protect the workers.
In October 2007 the government announced another new policy that the running of the detention
centers would now be taken over by the Home Ministry from the prison department. The
government is continues to make ad hoc policies without any consultative approach. Tenaganita
is very concern of the a decision of having an organisation as RELA, to help manage the detention
centers. It is of great concern that volunteers are given such an extensive power which would bring about corruption and abuse in the detention especially women and children being the most
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vulnerable group. With the Immigration Department, together with RELA conducting the arrest of
migrants and the running the detention center alone, they would be no check and balance and
monitoring system.
Migrant workers clinic a joint program with the Legal Aid Center (Bar Council) through attachment
of pupils has assisted migrant workers in their daily struggle. Young lawyers do 14 days of legal aid
duties to assist migrant workers in various aspect. Some of the activities and assistance rendered are
in documenting their cases, negotiating for an amicable settlement, filing of cases in the relevant
Labour Department / courts, accompanying the worker(s) in lodging police report and application
to Immigration Department to legalise the stay pending the out come of their cases as well as the
safe repatriation of the workers. The pupils also assist in the follow-up of cases and research on
certain laws and policies concerning migrant workers.
The attachment program is an avenue for young lawyers to learn the impact of migration in the
context of Globalisation. Further it also sensitises pupils towards human rights and inhumane
treatment of migrant workers. The program emphasised empathy and not sympathy and debunks
negative images of migrant workers.
The weakness of the program is however the lack of experiences and lack of assertiveness of young
lawyers which representing migrant workers. Young Lawyers are not able to do a critical analysis especially when there are conflicting laws and policies.
For the year 2007, 51 young lawyers were assign for the Legal Aid / Tenaganita migrant workers
clinic. In the current year, numbers of cases in case handling has increased, activities and community
out reach has expended. However the dropped of the number of young pupils had its set back on
the programs.
COURTS/ DEPARTMENT
Industrial Relation Department
Industrial Court
Labour Department/ Court
Others – Labour Dept (Insurance assessment)
Small Claims Court
Magistrate Court Appellate court
NO OF CASES FILED
3 (105 MW)
4
13
3
1
1
4
MIGRANT RIGHTS PROTECTION
Report on Violation of Migrants Workers’ Rights as at 6th Dec 2007
Nature of Complaints
EMPLOYMENT
Unpaid wages Wrongful/constructive Dismissal
Wrongful deduction of wages
No rest days
82
LEGAL AID
No. of Complaints
No of Complainants
59
3
2
2
271
3
16
22
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VIOLATION OF CONTRACT No contract
Low wages
Overtime not paid
Contracting workers (out - sourcing)
Long hours of work
No work at work place
Levy deduction
No place to stay
LEGAL STATUS Withholding of passport
Non renewal of work permit
Overstayed
Student visa
Recruitment (cheated by agent)
Fake Documents
ARREST, DETENTION & DEPORTATION
Arrest, Detention & Deportation
Arrest, Detention & Deportation (refugees)
HEALTH OSHA
Medical Treatment
Industrial Accident
Violence and abuse
Poor Living Condition
Death / Suicide
FAMILY & MARRIAGE Spouse Visa
Custody of child
Other family matters
OTHERS
Robbery
Theft
3
4
3
21
2
14
30
4
258
4
4
1930
7
1425
30
207
56
9
3
1
9
3
678
26
3
1
43
3
27
4
91
16
5
5
19
12
4
3
64
5
19
1183
112
2
4
2
4
4
2
4
5
2
5
2
(From January 2007 to 6th December 2007, 246 files were opened consisting of 2350 migrant
workers).
The number of complaints received this year shows an increase. A migrant worker walks into the migrant
clinic with multiple complaints. However only few cases have been filed at the relevant courts. Most
workers decide not to file cases due to the long delay in the court process and their stay in the
country is at the discretion of Immigration Department without alternative employment.
This year complaints relating to out -sourcing employment has increased tremendously. Tenaganita
find ourselves challenged greatly especially with limited resources of funds and personal. Tenaganita
were only able to assist as much as we could. As such more than 1000 affected workers were
given telephone counseling and legal advise only. Some of the cases were also referred to partner
organisation through out the country for immediate relief assistance.
Tenaganita together with the Migration Working Group have received great support from religious
groups and individuals in providing food and shelter.
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In July 2007 a joint consultation was organised between the Bar Council and Tenaganita on Out
– sourcing following Tenaganita’s Fact finding on out sourcing. Representative from Home Ministry
and several diplomatic official, SUHAKAM, NGOs, Transparency International, Members of the Bar
and individuals were present. Some affected workers gave their testimonies. This is to be followed
by a second consultation in 2008.
The positive aspect following the consultation is that we are able to directly communicate with
the representative from the Home Ministry and strengthen the advocacy between the Bangladesh
Government and Tenaganita. A delegation consisting of top official of the interim government of
Bangladesh personally made a visit to Malaysia to look into the concerns. Ms Lathefa Koya and
Ms Renuka from the Legal Aid Centre had spent considerable amount of time and energy to meet
personally the Bangladeshi workers and legally representing in their dispute.
9.
BCLACKL/PTF LEGAL INFORMATION SERVICE CLINIC
Report Prepared by Preetam Kaur & So Chien Hao
Committee Members BCLACKL representatives
Preetam Kaur So Chien Hao James Loh
Lim Ka-Tsung, Joachim
Lee Choo Suat, Tevina
Pink Triangle Foundations representatives
Hisham Hussein (PTF Chair)
The LAC/PTF Clinic
The Bar Council Legal Aid Centre Kuala Lumpur (BCLACKL) jointly with Pink Triangle Foundation (PTF)
has been conducting the legal clinic for the five (5) recognised marginalised communities which are
the drug users, sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS, transsexuals and homosexual men. We are proud to announce that PTF has recently managed to obtain a large fund from a Ministry.
With this fund they managed to secure 3 Centers in SONY building near Jalan Sultan Ismail for
the Sex Workers, Transsexual and the Positive Living People Program whereas the MSM program
obtained their grant and secured another centre at CIMB Bank nearby the 3 programs vicinity. This
shows the government’s willingness in preventing HIV/AIDS & STI issues. As it is known, the LAC/PTF clinic has 2 pupils who are assigned to work in pairs to attend to the PT
Clinic every Thursday. During the morning session, the pupils usually assist in the LAC Clinic by
attending to clients and legal intervention for LAC Clinic while in afternoon from 2.00 pm till 4.30
pm they will be at the PTF premises on rotation basis performing their duties in 4 different Centers.
Significant Cases Handled by our Pupils
The pupils have managed to obtain information on police harassments, beatings, gangster abuse,
and insights of a real destitute woman without any personal identification on her. The pupils always
discuss on how these people have been made victims of circumstances with our committee and
staff members.
The pupils have also managed to help a ex-sex worker with a baby from being remanded further as
she was holding a green identification card. The pupils managed to obtain the necessary assistance
from the relevant authorities and our legal intervention was successful and the pupils have continued
to volunteer their services to PTF. They now help in formulating database for the SW program.
84
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Whereas the new PTF pupils followed up on a case for three months regarding a pauper woman
who lived on the streets, was mentally disturbed and 5 months pregnant. She was brought to us by
her drug user boyfriend. The pupils assisted in liaising with the Jabatan Pendaftaran Wilayah Persekutuan
(JPNWP). The officer in charge made numerous attempts to locate the woman’s identity and finger
printing analysis was immediately provided to LAC but the said woman had no records. The pupils
were saddened by the results and also took the initiative to visit the hospital to see the mother and
baby who was born one week premature but is otherwise a healthy baby.
The pupils also made attempts to assist 4 sisters who do not have birth certificate although all of
them are above 40 years of age. These sad cases continue to arise in our community despite the
fact that we have just celebrated 50 years of its Independence. Network with Malaysian Aids Council (MAC)
This year the LAC also made our inaugural in-roads with the Malaysian Aids Council (MAC) and we
are now assisting them on legal matters with the Integrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Project
(IBBS) under the Ministry of Health. We are also planning to enhance our relationship by extending
our services to the MAC affiliates by next year. Activities year 2007
1.
We have conducted 4 pupils’ trainings programs where we have sensitised the pupils on
the pertinent issues faced by the communities. Some of the pupils on their own initiative
have volunteered and networked with PTF.
2.
We held 1st committee meeting on 30 March 2007 (Friday) at 6.50 pm at LAC.
3.
We conducted a Workshop Cum Legal Clinic for MSM program on 8 April 2007 (Sunday).
4.
We also attended round table discussion on “Legal Review & Response” organised by Ministry
of Health on 16 April 2007.
5.
We conducted Workshop Cum Legal clinic at Ikhlas Drop In Centre for Drug Users on 27
April 2007 (Friday) at 3.00 pm and although the Police were invited they were unable to
attend.
6.
Assisted in the organising and conducted talks for the “Give A Hug” Program with SMK
Bandar Baru Seri Petaling on 9 June 2007 (Saturday) from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. This was
under the School’s “Youth Leadership Program/Award”.
7.
We also held our 2nd committee meeting on 27 June 2007 (Wednesday) at 6.40 pm at LAC.
8.
Talks on Legal Rights for Transsexual program 10 July 2007 (Tuesday) at 2.30 pm
9.
Dialogue sessions with the IPD Dang Wangi by five communities representatives from PTF
and the Heads from the Police Dang Wangi on 17 July 2007 (Tuesday) at 3.00 pm
10.
We conducted Workshop Cum Legal clinic for MSM program on 22 July 2007 (Sunday) at PTF
11.
Para Legal Training for PTF staff and Exco members organised by KLLAC on 8 December
2007 (Saturday)
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Proposed Activities for Year 2008
1.
Law Reform
2.
Dialogue sessions with Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara on IC problems which the community
continues to face.
3.
Research on laws by pupils or para legals
4.
Drafting of pamphlets
5.
Providing free legal advise via PTF website to the marginalised communities 10.
LAC/UNHCR CLINIC (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
Report Prepared by Secretariat
Introduction
The LAC/UNHCR Clinic was a pilot project between the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur)
and UNHCR started in October 2006. This program is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international
action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problem world wide. Its primary purpose is to
safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. Objectives
•
To provide free legal advice to refugees and asylum-seekers who comes to UNHCR seeking
assistance on a variety of legal issues.
Activities
•
Four pupils trainings were held and a total of 12 pupils participated in the said clinic.
•
The pupils supported UNHCR in conducting legal protection interviews for arrest cases and
court cases, providing legal counseling for persons of concern facing protection risks,
conducting deportation interviews, taking down arrest reports, detention updates and
court reports, attending Court for watching briefs and to secure the release of UNHCR persons
of concern from prosecution and continued detention.
•
Pupils were also involved in the various events conducted by UNHCR.
•
As of November 2007, the Clinic has assisted a total of 3360 clients.
Shortcomings
•
Pupils had some difficulty in picking up on UNHCR procedures and took some time to familiarise
themselves with the UNHCR protection mandate. •
Human resources / Volunteers
Recommendation
•
86
To increase the number of pupils
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11.
LEGAL AWARENESS PROGRAM (ORIENTATION)
Report prepared by Secretariat
Committee Members
Sivarasa Rasiah (Project Head)
Saravana Kumar (Alternate Project Head)
Rajen Devraj (Bar Council)
Abd Shukor Tokachil Nik Waheeda Nik Kamarulzaman
Jessie Tan
Kavitha Rajan Legal AIDERS
Puspawati Rosman (Alternate Project Head)
Latheefa Koya
Harleen Kaur
Kamaliyah Mohd Hafiz
Joyce Oo Mei Ling
Arumugam
Azah Yazmin
Introduction
This program intends to give pupils a “real dimension” as to what is required from them in their
14-day compulsory Legal Aid duty and to introduce them to the various clinics and programs conducted
by Legal Aid Centre.
Objectives
•
To assist pupils to discover their role and responsibility as lawyers in society, and to develop
a sense of social obligation and a concern for human rights, rule of law and justice
•
To introduce pupils to new ideas, and to instill and develop long term commitment towards
legal aid and access to justice, beyond the compulsory Legal Aid duty.
The sessions (about 4 ½ hours each), uses a participative methodology, with group dynamics and
general discussions. The structure is new, and is being modified and developed according to pupils’
evaluations.
Activities
As of 10th December 2007, the committee has conducted and introduced the following programs/
sessions:
•
Eight (8) orientation sessions were held and have trained approximately 500 pupils.
•
The committee also has opened up the orientation session to pupils from other states. To
date the committee had trained approximately 90 pupils from Selangor Legal Aid.
•
Four (4) Exit Evaluation sessions were held for all pupils involved in the various LAC programs
to appreciate their contribution to the public and LAC. Approximately 440 pupils have
participated in the sessions and shared their experience in the various programs which
they have served as part of their legal aid duty. During these sessions, the committee has
invited Mr Yeo Yang Poh, Mr Lim Chee Wee, Mr Ravindra Kumar and Mr Ravi Nekoo
to appreciate the pupils’ contribution and further motivate them to be involved in BCLAC
(KL)’s activities.
Due to the very successful response to the Committee’s Pilot Advanced Training called “Legal
Awareness and Leadership for Lawyers” program which was held at Selesa Health Farm
Resort, Bukit Tinggi, Bentong Pahang from 3rd to 5th November 2006 to encourage
pupils/young lawyers to continue their involvement in the Legal Aid Centre (LAC) on a long
•
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term basis, a second session was held at Genting Permai Park & Resort on 20th to 22nd
April 2007. This session was also very successful and managed to retain the participants
in participating further in BCLAC (KL)’s activities. The main objectives of this program are
(i) to motivate and encourage pupils/young lawyers to be more involved in the LAC; (ii) to
introduce soft skills essential for leadership; and (iii) to enhance their knowledge in specific
areas/issues.
88
•
As a follow-up to the first and second Advanced trainings, a get-together session was held
for the participants who attended these trainings. The session was held on 14th July 2007
at the Bar Council Meeting Room. The purpose of the said get-together session was to
share and obtain feedback from participants on their activities and developments since
the training session. It was also intended as a planning session where the participants can
share ideas and discuss possible follow-ups to issues highlighted at the previous training
sessions. The committee had also received requests from the participants to have a follow-up
session on the advanced trainings as most participants who attended the said trainings
were anxious to contribute further but had no idea on how to follow-up. The committee is
also proud to announce that during the said get-together session, it saw the birth of a new
group of young lawyers who are enthusiastic and eager to assist the BCLAC(KL) in its various
activities who called themselves the “Legal AIDERS”.
•
The Committee having reviewed the said Advanced Trainings has decided to conduct the
training session twice a year as a fixed program for pupils and young lawyers. As a result of
that a Third advanced Training was held from 26th-28th October, 2007 at The Pines Resort,
Fraser’s Hill. The Legal AIDERS was given an opportunity to help organise the activities for
the training and to become facilitators/trainers for the event. At the end of the training, the
participants were invited to join the Legal AIDERS. Based on the final evaluation conducted
at the training it came to our attention that the participants was overwhelmed on the way
the training was conducted and it was suggested that the training should be carried out in
future to enable young lawyers to be prepared to enter the real world of legal practice.
•
The Legal AIDERS held their Second get-together session/AGM on the 20th October, 2007
at the Bar Council Auditorium. The get-together/AGM intended to discuss the development
of the Legal AIDERS and its sub-committees and highlights on the previous activities that
been carried out. The Committee also discussed in relation to the 3rd Advanced Training
and on inviting the 3rd Advanced Training participants to join the Legal AIDERS. Other issue
of concern which was discussed in further detail was in relation to the criteria that other
young lawyers need to fulfill in order to join the Legal AIDERS. It was unanimously agreed
that the main criteria to join the Legal AIDERS is to have participated in the advanced training.
It was also agreed that in the event someone who did not attend the advanced training is
interested to join Legal AIDERS, then it is important for anyone of the existing Legal AIDERS
to make a recommendation to the committee at large.
•
A Get-Together session was also held for 3rd Advanced Training participants on 25th November
2007. This gathering was intended to get the participants of the 3rd Advanced training to
re-look at some of the issues discussed at the advance training in greater depth including
the proposal and discussion of new ideas as well as give them the opportunity to join the
“Legal AIDERS” group.
•
The committee also organised a Training of Trainers session on 4th August 2007 at the
Pearl International Hotel. The committee having observed a few training sessions conducted
at the Centre, felt that presentation skills of trainers could be further enhanced in order to
retain the interest of the participants and to impart the necessary skills and knowledge. It
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was identified that the current trainers whilst having a sound grasp of the law, lacked training
skills. As such, the committee believed that this training of trainers session will basically
help young lawyers to develop and further enhance their training skills. This training session was
successful and well received by participants who had requested for a follow-up session.
Strengths
•
Committed Committee members and their ability to come up with ideas to implement and
further improve the training sessions.
•
Motivation of pupils on the need to serve the needy and marginalised.
•
Education of pupils on human rights and instills in them a sense of justice.
Weakness
•
Time and human resources
•
Follow-up actions/sessions
Recommendations
•
To be able to organise more awareness and human rights sessions for lawyers and/or the public
•
To be able to discover ways to retain and maintain the involvement of Legal AIDERS.
12.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Report prepared by Secretariat
Committee Members
Lalithaambigai
Komathi Arunasalam Komati Kaliappan
Introduction
L I Kannan
Saravana Kumar
Jessica
This Program aims to develop and enhance skills and increase motivation amongst all pupils, NGO
partners and volunteer lawyers in order to improve the quality of service delivered to the clients.
Objectives:
•
Organising training programs for current and future volunteers lawyers and paralegals to
meet and accommodate the needs of LACKL
•
Assisting with training programs for pupils
•
•
Reviewing the training programs and making recommendations for improvements, as deem
appropriate
Training of trainers.
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Activities
i)
-
90
Introductory Talk and Discussion on Child Sexual Abuse (12th May 2007)
This talk was organised in collaboration with P. S. The Children, a non-profit organisation
dedicated to children’s welfare. The main objective of this talk is for the lawyers to understand
the way in which children who have been sexually abused and the help they require in the
legal arena. Certain pertinent areas were identified in which members of the legal fraternity
are able a difference and where there currently is a gap that needs to be filled urgently:
i)
Assistance in holding a watching brief
ii)
Assisting the victim and their families in relation to the Court Procedures and other
related areas; and
iii)
To help contribute to create an atmosphere that will encourage the Courts to protect
and promote the child’s interest especially whilst the children is part of the Court
procedure i.e. when giving evidence in Court and the likes.
-
We had three very prominent speakers, namely, Mr M Puravalen, Ms Madeleine Yong and
Ms Vicky Alahokone, who gave the participants the different perspectives that needed in
order to understand the talk better.
-
It is the committee’s humble view that the talk was a success with a total of 50 participants
-
which include the existing pool of LAC volunteers, new lawyers, NGO partners, pupils and
members of the public attended this talk.
ii)
-
Produced a child-friendly booklet on Child Act
The committee together with P.S The Children has brain stormed and produced a child- friendly
booklet on Child Act which is being printed.
iii)
-
Training on How to Conduct the “OK Tak OK” Program (6th October 2007)
The committee together with Women’s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC) has organised
a training session on how to conduct the “Ok Tak Ok” program. This program is about
personal safety and is designed to teach children (11-12 years old) about good and bad
touches. The program stresses the use of feelings to help children differentiate between
good (OK) or bad (Tak OK) touches. The children learned safety rules about touching via a
song, a series of cartoons and stories, all shown in the VCD. At the end of the program the
children were encouraged to tell a trusted adult should they find themselves in a difficult
situation.
-
Again the committee’s humble view is that the talk was a success with positive remarks
form the participants who attended the training. Approximately 50 participants – which
include the existing pool of LAC volunteers, new lawyers, NGO partners, pre-school teachers,
pupils and members of the public attended this talk.
-
Through evaluation, the participants confirmed that they have gained tremendous information
and insights from the exposure given to them by the trainer, Dr Prema Devaraj from WCC
through this training and if fact the participants had requested the Centre to organise more
sessions of this kind as they feel that there is a lot more for them to learn.
iv)
-
Criminal Law Training – 2nd & 3rd November 2007 at University Malaya
This training was mooted due to the fact that there is a dearth of practitioners volunteering
to take up cases in view of the tremendous increase of LAC clients requiring advice and
representation on Criminal matters.
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-
This training was held with particular emphasis on the preparation and enhancing the ad
vocacy skills of defence lawyers in criminal trials.
-
The aim of the training was twofold, firstly to create a ready pool of able lawyers who would
acquire advocacy skills in conducting criminal trials competently. Secondly, having acquired
these skills, these lawyers would then be expected and requested, from time to time, to assist
the poor and marginalised members of our society who seek legal representation from the
Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur) and the other State Legal Aid Centres.
-
Approximately 60 participants – which include the existing pool of LAC volunteers, new
lawyers, pupils and law students attended this training.
-
The training was conducted by Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Manjeet Singh Dhillon, Mr Baljit Singh,
Datuk K Kumaraendran, Mr Tan Hock Chuan, Mr Ravi Nekoo, Mr Edmund Bon and also
Tuan Hakim Harminder Singh Dhaliwal.
-
For continuity in the training and to bolster the confidence of lawyers to handle criminal
files, a “Buddy System” was introduced, for experienced criminal defence lawyers to guide
new criminal law practitioners.
As can be noticed from the above activities of the committee, this year the committee has shifted
its focus to one of the most alarming issues which is Child Sexual Abuse from its normal trainings
for the lawyers etc as it feels it is high time for the committee to also educate the lawyers and pupils
on such issues.
Proposed Activities future:
The committee had planned the following training sessions for the coming year:
•
Human Rights Training for Lawyers tentatively scheduled sometime in December 2007 or
January 2008.
•
Training for facilitators / organisers scheduled sometime in December 2007 or January 2008.
•
Family Law Training
•
Employment Law Training
•
Syariah Law Training
•
Staff Training on Team Building for all State LAC Staff
Strengths
•
Enhances the legal skills, knowledge and confidence of participants, to equip and encour
aged them to handle files and carry out legal aid work
•
Facilitates and complements existing BCLAC (KL) training programmes
•
Committed Committee members and their ability to come up with ideas to implement and
further improve the training sessions
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Weakness
•
Time, human resources / volunteers with the appropriate skills or those open to undergoing
training
•
Follow-up actions
Recommendation
92
•
In future, perhaps the committee should organise talks and/or programmes involving other
interesting areas of the law.
•
More Committee Members should be involved in the above talks and/or programmes.
•
Encourage the Court’s staff and the police to attend the session and to elicit feedback
from them.
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LAporan Pengerusi
A. PENGENALAN
Gaya pimpinan saya dalam Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
pada tahun 2007/2008 merupakan satu pengalaman yang bernilai.
Kebanyakan aktiviti-aktiviti kami pada penggal ini bertujuan dalam
meningkatkan minat dan kebajikan ahli-ahli, meningkatkan programprogram yang sedia ada untuk ahli-ahli muda melalui workshop dan
program-program Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan dan selanjutnya
untuk melibatkan pemegang-pemegang amanah yang relevan untuk
meningkatkan keperluan ahli-ahli kami dari hari ke sehari. Kerja-kerja dan
kesan-kesan yang telah kami lakukan pada penggal ini tidak akan
terlaksana tanpa kerjasama yang tidak putus-putus dan sokongan yang
saya terima daripada setiap seorang daripada ahli-ahli jawatankuasa
dan ahli-ahli yang bekerja dalam pelbagai jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa
kecil. Ahli-ahli akan mencatatkan dalam laporan-laporan bersama
mereka bahawa ini adalah benar berdasarkan kepada peningkatan variasi kepada aktiviti yang telah dijalankan.
B.
AKTIVITI-AKTIVITI JAWATANKUASA
(i)
Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur
Fokus utama Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
semasa pengambilalihan pada 12.02.2007 adalah
pemindahan Mahkamah-mahkamah Kuala Lumpur ke
Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur di Jalan Duta. Beberapa
mesyuarat telah diadakan bersama Pemangku Ketua
Pendaftar, Hakim Kanan Mahkamah Sesyen dan PegawaiPegawai Mahkamah yang lain termasuk Pegawai-Pegawai dari
Jabatan Undang-Undang untuk memastikan bahawa terdapat
peralihan yang lancar dalam pemindahan Mahkamahmahkamah ke Kompleks Mahkamah yang baru. Ahli
Jawatankuasa Perhubungan Mahkamah telah memainkan
peranan yang penting dalam kegiatan ini dan masih lagi
mengadakan dialog-dialog biasa dengan autoriti-autoriti yang
relevan untuk mencuba dan mengetengahkan masalahmasalah yang masih belum dapat diselesaikan dan/atau
yang timbul dari semasa ke semasa.
Atas tuntutan kami, Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur diperuntukkan
2 buah Bilik Peguam dan satu Bilik Bantuan Guaman. Satu
majlis pembukaan Bilik-bilik Peguam telah diadakan pada
10.07.2007 yang dilancarkan oleh Presiden Majlis Peguam
Malaysia kami, Cik Ambiga Sreenevasan.
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Said, pada 12.03.2007 dan telah menyerahkan
kepada beliau dan keluarga beliau Buku
Peringatan yang mengandungi pandanganpandangan tentang Allahyarham yang ditulis
oleh ahli-ahli Badan Peguam, yang dimulakan
oleh Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
selepas pemergian Dato’ secara tiba-tiba
pada 07.01.2007.
Kami juga ingin merekodkan terima kasih kami
kepada Majlis Peguam untuk sumbangan mereka
terhadap sebahagian kos renovasi bilik peguam. (ii)
Kunjungan Hormat
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah
membuat kunjungan hormat ke atas Tuan
Ahmad Terrirudin pada 13.03.2007 (yang
merupakan Pemangku Ketua Pendaftar
pada masa itu), Tuan Azman Abdullah pada
14.03.2007 (yang merupakan bekas Hakim
Kanan Mahkamah Sesyen dan sekarang
merupakan
Persuruhjaya
Kehakiman),
Menteri Undang-Undang, YB Dato’ Seri
Mohamed Nazri pada 08.05.2007, Ketua
Pendaftar yang baru, Datuk Halijah Abbas
pada 08.08.2007, Hakim Kanan Mahkamah
Sesyen yang terkini, Tuan Harminder Singh
pada 05.09.2007, Peguam Negara pada
12.09.2007 dan Presiden Mahkamah Rayuan
pada 21.01.2008.
Kami mengambil kesempatan ini untuk
mengetengahkan isu-isu yang kami mengambil
berat di kunjungan-kunjungan hormat
ini dengan fokus utama berkaitan dengan
permindahan Mahkamah-mahkamah Kuala
Lumpur ke Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala
Lumpur di Jalan Duta. Edaran-edaran/Laporanlaporan berkaitan isu-isu yang diketengahkan
telah/akan dihantar kepada ahli-ahli melalui
Surat Berita E-mel Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur dan ditampal pada Laman
Web Badan Peguam KL www.klbar.org.my.
Kami juga telah membuat temujanji-temujanji
untuk menghubungi Ketua Hakim Negara
dan Ketua Hakim Besar Malaya yang baru
tetapi sehingga tarikh laporan ini, tarikh yang
sesuai masih belum dapat ditetapkan.
(iii)
Lawatan-Lawatan
menziarahi Allahyarham Y.A.A Tan Sri Dato’ Hj Abdul
Malek dan mendiang Y.A. Datuk K.P. Gengadharan
di hospital sebelum peninggalan mereka.
menziarahi Datin Salmah bt Md Kassim, isteri
kepada Allahyarham Y.A. Dato’ Abdul Wahab
94
LAPORAN PENGERUSI
Satu Buku Peringatan juga telah diaturkan
untuk ahli-ahli Badan Peguam untuk menulis
pandangan-pandangan mereka tentang
mendiang Y.A. Datuk K.P. Gengadharan
yang meninggal dunia pada 21.04.2007.
Buku Peringatan tersebut telah diserahkan
kepada isteri beliau di satu Memorial pada
15.06.2007 yang dianjurkan oleh sahabatsahabat rapat mendiang Hakim.
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
telah menziarahi Y.A. Datuk George Seah
yang telah mengalami strok pada tahun
2005, di rumahnya pada 19.05.2007.
Datuk merupakan salah seorang daripada
Hakim Mahkamah Agung (sekarang dikenali
sebagai Mahkamah Persekutuan) yang telah
dihentikan kerja sewaktu Krisis Kehakiman
1988.
(iv)
Prosedur-prosedur Pra-tindakan untuk Tuntutan
Kecederaan Diri
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
telah diundang untuk memberi maklum
balas bagi usulan dari Badan Kehakiman
untuk memperkenalkan Prosedur-prosedur
Pra-tindakan untuk Tuntutan Kecederaan
Diri. Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
telah menghantar keluar dua senarai soal
selidik dan menganjurkan satu Forum pada
10.04.2007 untuk menerima komen, pendapat
dan maklum balas daripada para ahli
tentang Prosedur-prosedur Pra-tindakan
yang diusulkan.
Beberapa mesyuarat telah diadakan bersama
Hakim Besar Sabah & Sarawak dan satu
jawatankuasa bertindak yang terdiri daripada
6 Peguam Kecederaan Peribadi dan 4 Hakim
Kanan Mahkamah Sesyen telah ditubuhkan
dan satu rangka garis panduan untuk awardaward bagi kecederaan peribadi telah dibuat
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
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untuk memastikan kekonsistenan di dalam
pemberian award-award. Rangka garispanduan
tersebut telah dikemukakan kepada Hakim
Besar Sabah & Sarawak untuk pertimbangannya.
Saya ingin menghulurkan penghargaan kepada
Americk Sidhu, John Fam, Santhana Dass, Siva
Dharma, Raslan Hadri, S.L. Tan dan semua
ahli Kumpulan PAP atas usaha baik mereka.
(v)
Sistem Persidangan Video untuk
Mahkamah
(viii)
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
Pernyataan Media
Satu Penyataan telah dikeluarkan kepada
media pada 21.09.2007 yang menyatakan
keadaan terperanjat dan kecewa Jawatankuasa
Peguam Kuala Lumpur ke atas isu “klip video”
dan sokongan seruan yang dibuat oleh Majlis
Peguam untuk penubuhan satu badan siasatan
diraja untuk hal tersebut.
(ix) Atas undangan Badan Kehakiman, Jawatankuasa
Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah menghadiri
satu demonstrasi sistem persidangan video
pada 07.06.2007. Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur juga telah menghadiri suatu
persidangan video olokan antara Mahkamah
KL dengan Mahkamah Pulau Pinang serta
Mahkamah KL dengan Penjara Kajang pada
07.08.2007 di Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala
Lumpur.
Pada 30.10.2007, satu mesyuarat telah diadakan
antara Badan Kehakiman, pelbagai Jawatankuasa
Peguam Negeri dan pemegang amanah dan
pembekal servis di mana kami telah diberi
keterangan yang ringkas mengenai bayaran
yang dikenakan. Satu e-mel telah dihantar
meminta maklum balas para ahli tentang bayaran
yang diusulkan dan pertanyaan yang lain daripada
para ahli berkenaan sistem tersebut. Pendapat
dan maklum balas yang diterima telah
dikumpulkan dan dikemukakan kepada
Badan Kehakiman.
Forum tentang Keadaan Kehakiman
Menurut keputusan yang dibuat oleh
Majlis Peguam bahawa semua Badan
Peguam Negeri perlu mengadakan satu
Forum untuk setiap Negeri mereka demi
melahirkan kesedaran tentang keadaan
Kehakiman di Malaysia, terutamanya
dikalangan orang awam dan masyarakat
sivil, Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
pada mulanya mensasarkan Forum ini diadakan
dalam bulan Februari 2008. Namun begitu,
memandangkan Suruhanjaya DiRaja sedang
mengadakan siasatan “Klip Video” dan
sementara menunggu hasil siasatan tersebut,
kami mengambil keputusan untuk menangguhkan
Forum ini ke satu tarikh yang kemudian.
Forum berkenaan dengan Skema Liabiliti
Tanpa Kesalahan (Proposed No Fault Liability’
“NFL”) yang diusulkan
mengadakan Forum pada 23.10.2007 untuk
menerima komen, pendapat dan maklum
balas daripada para ahli berkenaan Skema
Liabiliti Tanpa Kesalahan yang diusulkan oleh
Jabatan Peguam Negara untuk diperkenalkan.
Minit-minit Forum tersebut telah dicatatkan
dan dikemukakan kepada “NFL Task Force”
Majlis Peguam supaya mereka dapat
mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya bagi
hal tersebut.
(vi)
(vii)
Kegiatan yang lain-lain
diundang untuk menghadiri pelancaran rasmi
Mahkamah e-Industri pada 27.03.2007,
pelancaran rasmi Mahkamah “IP” di Kompleks
Mahkamah KL pada 17.07.2007 dan pembukaan
rasmi Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur
pada 27.08.2007.
Sewaktu perkhidmatan kami, kami juga telah
menerima undangan dari banyak organisasi
untuk mengambil bahagian dalam pelbagai
kegiatan, antaranya ialah:
•
•
•
•
•
(ix)
Persidangan Hari Hak-hak Kemanusiaan
Malaysia 2007 mengenai “Human
Rights and Elections”
Konvensyen Intergriti Nasional
Dialog Intergriti Asean 2007
Pengumuman Indeks Rasuah 2007
Fokus Kumpulan Penutupan Bisnes
Mesyuarat-mesyuarat Jawatankuasa
Sehingga 31.12.2007, Jawatankuasa telah
LAPORAN PENGERUSI
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|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
mengadakan mesyuarat sebanyak 11 kali
dan kehadiran setiap ahli adalah seperti
berikut:
R.Ravindra Kumar
Anand Ponnudurai
Brendan Navi Siva
Abdul Rashid Ismail Richard Wee Thiam Seng
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
N. Sivananthan
Ravindran Nekoo
Raja Riza Shazmin
(xi)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
10
11
9
11
10
9
8
10
11
8
2
9
ditubuhkan untuk membantu organisasi pelbagai
aktiviti Jawatankuasa Kuala Lumpur dan untuk
memenuhi keperluan para ahli. Jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil telah diketuai oleh para ahli
Jawatankuasa seperti berikut:
i
Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan:
Abdul Rashid Ismail
ii
Amalan Konveyansing:
Baljit Singh Sidhu
iii
iv
Perhubungan Mahkamah Sivil:
Steven Thiru, wakil ke Majlis Peguam telah
dijemput untuk menghadiri mesyuarat-mesyuarat
Jawatankuasa sebagai pemerhati dan juga
untuk melapor kepada Majlis Peguam
mengenai perkara-perkara yang berkaitan
apakala penting dan diperlukan. Beliau telah
menghadiri 9 mesyuarat kesemuanya dan
telah bekerja rapat dengan Jawatankuasa ini.
v
Undang-undang Alam Sekitar
vi
Teknologi Maklumat:
Raja Riza Shazmin
vii
Bantuan Guaman
Ravindran Nekoo
Kewangan, Yuran dan Pendapatan Bukan Yuran
viii
Penerbitan
Brendan Navin Siva
ix
Hal Ehwal Pelatih Dalam Kamar
x
Sosial, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
xi
Sukan
Anand Ponnudurai
xii
Peguam Muda
Kedudukan kewangan Jawatankuasa kekal
stabil dengan jumlah wang sebanyak RM651,023
dalam Deposit Tetap dan RM284,713 dalam
Akaun Amanah dengan Amanah Raya Berhad.
Perincian bagi kedudukan kewangan adalah
di dalam Akaun Teraudit berakhir pada
31.12.2007.
Yuran bagi tahun 2007 dikekalkan pada
RM 100.00 di Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan
yang lepas pada 12.02.2007. Pada akhir
tahun kewangan bagi Jawatankuasa pada
31.12.2007, 144 ahli-ahli masih belum
menjelaskan yuran bagi tahun 2007.
Penggal ini, kami dapat memungut sejumlah
RM99,383 daripada tajaan-tajaan, pengiklanan
di laman web dan surat berita dan syarahansyarahan Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan.
C.
AKTIVITI-AKTIVITI JAWATANKUASA KECIL
12 jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil telah
96
LAPORAN PENGERUSI
Amalan Jenayah:
N Sivananthan
Laporan-laporan sampingan daripada pelbagai
jawatankuasa kecil mencerminkan kerja yang dilakukan
oleh jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil tersebut.
D.
OBITUARI-OBITUARI
Kami dengan dukacitanya merakamkan peninggalan
para ahli tersebut dari Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala
Lumpur sewaktu tahun kajian semula:
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Mohd Nasir bin A Khalid pada 08.02.2007
Dato’ S P Veloo pada 23.05.2007
Vong Poh Fah pada 25.05.2007
Manjit Singh a/l Gurcharan Singh pada 01.06.2007
Selvarani Paneerselvam pada 24.06.2007
Mah Teck Chong pada 17.08.2007
Vijayaram Krishnan pada 17.09.2007
Nik Mariah binti Tan Sri Nik Ahmad Kamil pada
15.10.2007
Istiadat “Reference” bagi menghormati dan mengingati
ahli-ahli yang tersebut di atas telah dijadualkan untuk
dilangsungkan pada 18.02.2008. Prosiding ini akan
dipersidangkan oleh Y.A. Puan Lau Bee Lan.
E.
PENGIKTIRAFAN DAN KESIMPULAN
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur merekodkan
kerjasama dan bantuan yang diterima daripada
Badan Kehakiman di semua peringkat dan pelbagai
pemegang Amanah di mana pelbagai perbincangan
telah diadakan. Adalah diharapkan bahawa dialog
dua hala ini akan diteruskan di masa hadapan dan
lebih banyak dapat dicapai di dalam tahun-tahun
yang akan datang.
yang diberikan yang menjadikan ia satu pengalaman
yang memuaskan sepanjang pimpinan saya. Kepada
para pekerja Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala
Lumpur, satu penghargaan ikhlas kepada kamu semua
di atas komitmen berterusan kepada Sekretariat.
Sementara Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
terus mengharungi cabaran, kami akan kekal teguh
memastikan bahawa objektif kami dalam berkhidmat
kepada ahli-ahli kami tidak terancam.
Akhir kata saya sesungguhnya berharap bahawa semua
ahli-ahli akan terus memberi sokongan sepenuhnya
kepada Jawatankuasa yang akan datang, sepertimana
yang dilakukan sepanjang tempoh ini.
R. RAVINDRA KUMAR
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Peguam KL 2007/2008.
Bagi pihak Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur,
saya ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada para
Peguam Kuala Lumpur yang telah membantu kami
dalam pelbagai perwakilan, di mahkamah dan untuk
penglibatan mereka dalam pelbagai aktiviti kami.
Ucapan dan pengiktirafan istimewa mesti diberi kepada kesemua ahli jawatankuasa kecil yang telah membantu 12
pengerusi jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil dalam
menjalankan aktiviti-aktiviti mereka.
Semasa saya menerima jawatan pengerusi, saya
sedar bahawa terdapat banyak kerja yang harus
dilakukan. Namun, tugas ini menjadi lebih mudah
dengan dedikasi dan komitmen yang tidak terhingga
oleh setiap 12 ahli Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala
Lumpur 2007/2008. Saya berbesar hati dapat
bekerjasama dengan mereka, di mana setiap daripada
mereka telah menyumbang terhadap perkembangan
dalam setiap bidang mereka, bukan saja untuk
memberi perkhidmatan yang lebih baik kepada ahliahli, tetapi untuk memperkenalkan perubahan yang
memenuhi keperluan dan harapan para ahli.
Ucapan terima kasih yang istimewa kepada Anand
Ponnudurai, Setiausaha Kehormat dan Mary Tan, Setiausaha Eksekutif terhadap bantuan dan nasihat
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
LAPORAN PENGERUSI
97
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
LAporan Sekretariat 2007/08
KAKITANGAN
Pada 30.04.2007, Sulochana yang telah mengurus Bilik Peguam
di Wisma Denmark (sebelum Mahkamah-Mahkamah berpindah
ke Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur dalam bulan May 2007,
Mahkamah-Mahkamah Tinggi Sivil terletak di Wisma Denmark) selama
14 tahun terpaksa berhenti kerja di atas nasihat doktor, disebabkan
masalah kesihatan. Beliau menyertai Sekretariat pada 16.04.1993. Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur (“JPKL”) telah membayar
beliau pampasan menurut Peraturan-Peraturan Kerja (FaedahFaedah Penamatan dan Hentikerja Sementara) 1980. Sekretariat
telah membantu beliau mendapatkan pampasan daripada PERKESO. Kami mendoakan kesejahteraan ke atas beliau.
Kekosongan jawatan tersebut diisi oleh Norhafizah binti Ahmad Padali
bermula dari 02.07.2007. Norhafizah menguruskan Bilik Peguam di
Sayap Kiri Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur manakala Thirumahil
Ramalingam yang biasanya dikenali sebagai Vasu menguruskan Bilik
Peguam di Sayap Kanan. Di samping menguruskan Bilik Peguam dan
memberi bantuan kepada ahli-ahli Badan Peguam yang menggunakan
Bilik Peguam, Norhafizah juga menolong mengambil gambar di Upacara
Penerimaan Masuk Peguambela dan Peguamcara (Call Ceremonies)
dan mengutip senarai-senarai kausa mingguan dari MahkamahMahkamah untuk dimasukkan ke dalam laman web Badan Peguam
Kuala Lumpur.
Agak bertepatan pada waktu ini untuk memaklumkan kemudahankemudahan yang tersedia di Bilik-Bilik Peguam pada masa ini untuk
pegunaan peguam-peguam (ada yang dengan pembayaran) seperti
berikut:
•
•
•
•
•
Satu set buku-buku MLJ (daripada 1990 sehingga tahun semasa) di setiap Bilik Peguam;
Telefon di kedua-dua Bilik Peguam;
Kemudahan faks di Bilik Peguam, Sayap Kiri;
Sebuah komputer dan mesin cetak di Bilik Peguam, Sayap Kiri;
Dispenser air di kedua-dua Bilik Peguam.
Berbalik kepada kakitangan di Sekretariat, Indira, Kerani Kemasukan
yang mengendali Petisyen untuk Penerimaan Masuk Peguambela dan
Peguamcara menerima anugerah perkhidmatan jangka panjangnya pada
16.01.2007. Beliau telah berkhidmat untuk JPKL selama 10 tahun. Dua lagi kakitangan Sekretariat akan menerima anugerah perkhidmatan
jangka panjang dalam tahun 2008. Rajan, Pegawai Pentadbiran yang
berkhidmat di bawah Jawatankuasa Peguam Selangor & WP dan
98
L A P O R A N S E K R E T A R I AT
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kemudian di bawah JPKL apabila ia ditubuhkan pada
01.07.1992, telah berkhidmat selama 20 tahun dan
Masni, Kerani Am, selama 15 tahun. Kami amat
bernasib baik kerana mempunyai sekumpulan
kakitangan yang setia dan berdedikasi, di mana
sebahagian besarnya telah berkhidmat dengan
Jawatankuasa untuk jangka masa yang panjang.
Struktur Organisasi serta maklumat terperinci
mengenai portfolio bagi setiap kakitangan boleh didapati
di laman web Badan Peguam KL www.klbar.org.my.
Dalam zaman teknologi maklumat ini, Jawatankuasa
sentiasa mengkaji penggunaan teknologi maklumat
bagi memperbaiki dan meningkatkan taraf kemudahankemudahan dan perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan yang
diberikan kepada ahli-ahli terutamanya melalui
laman web Badan Peguam KL, dan terdapat keperluan
untuk menggagi Pegawai Teknologi Maklumat sepenuh
masa. Jawatankuasa telah bersetuju dengan cadangan
ini dan jawatan ini akan diiklankan sebaik sahaja skop
kerja dimuktamadkan oleh Jawatankuasa Teknologi
Maklumat. Kami menjangka Pegawai tersebut akan
menyertai Sekretariat dalam penggal Jawatankuasa
yang baru.
FUNGSI
Tahun 2007 memang adalah merupakan satu lagi tahun
yang sibuk. Dengan 11 jawatankuasa kecil (Pusat
Bantuan Guaman mempunyai kakitangan sendiri)
dan pelbagai aktiviti dan projek yang diusahakan
oleh setiap jawatankuasa kecil dan Jawatankuasa
utama, kakitangan Sekretariat yang mana tenaga
kerjanya adalah seramai 9 orang sahaja telah bekerja
tanpa mengenal penat untuk memastikan bahawa
semua projek dan aktiviti dijalankan dengan jayanya. Perincian berkenaan projek dan aktiviti yang dijalankan
terkandung di dalam laporan Pengerusi dan laporanlaporan jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil. Selain
daripada mengendalikan projek-projek dan aktivitiaktiviti, Sekretariat juga memperuntukan sokongan
kesetiausahaan dan tadbir kepada JPKL dan
jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecilnya. Terdapat juga
banyak lagi fungsi lazim yang kena dijalankan oleh
kakitangan Sekretariat antaranya seperti memproses
Petisyen Penerimaan Masuk Peguambela dan
Peguamcara, penyelengaraan akaun, pendaftaran
ahli dan sistem Peti Dokumen (B.C. Box), pungutan
yuran tahunan, sewa Peti Dokumen, melayani pertanyaan
daripada ahli-ahli Badan Peguam, pelatih-pelatih
dalam kamar dan juga masyarakat awam.
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
Kami di Sekretariat akan terus berusaha untuk memberikan
khidmat yang lebih baik untuk Badan Peguam KL dan
menyediakan Sekretariat yang lebih efisyen untuk
para ahli.
PENGHARGAAN
Kakitangan Sekretariat ingin menyampaikan penghargaan
kami kepada Pengerusi JPKL, Encik Ravindra Kumar,
Setiausaha Kehormat, Encik Anand Ponnudurai dan
semua ahli Jawatankuasa atas bimbingan dan sokongan
mereka dalam memastikan kelancaran perjalanan
Sekretariat serta semua projek-projek dan aktivitiaktiviti. Sekretariat juga ingin mengucapkan terima
kasih kepada ahli-ahli semua jawatankuasa kecil
atas kerjasama dan bantuan yang diberikan kepada
pihak kami dalam pengurusan berbagai-bagai acara. Ucapan terima kasih juga ditujukan kepada ahli-ahli
Badan Peguam KL dan pelbagai pemegang amanah
lain yang telah memberikan bantuan dan sokongan
secara langsung atau tidak langsung di dalam perlaksanaan
fungsi-fungsi kami.
Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan
terima kasih kepada JPKL di atas penganugerahan
perkhidmatan saya selama 30 tahun (iaitu 15 tahun
dengan Jawatankuasa Peguam Selangor & Wilayah
Persekutuan dan 15 tahun lagi dengan JPKL) pada
02.01.2007.
JEMPUTAN UNTUK MAKLUMBALAS DAN KOMEN
Sekretariat menjemput ahli-ahli Badan Peguam KL
untuk memberi maklumbalas dan komen tentang
bagaimana Sekretariat dapat memperbaiki perkhidmatannya
kepada para ahli dan profesion. Maklumbalas dan
komen boleh diajukan melalui e-mel kepada klbc@
klbar.org.my. Kami amat pasti bahawa bersamasama kita dapat menyumbang dalam memperbaiki
Badan Peguam KL dan profesion perundangan.
Mary Tan
Setiausaha Eksekutif
L A P O R A N S E K R E T A R I AT
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JAWATANKUASA PENDIDIKAN
UNDANG-UNDANG LANJUTAN
Pengerusi
Abdul Rashid Ismail
Ahli-Ahli Jawatankuasa
Joanne Long
Mohd Izral Khairy
Selma Enolil Mustapha Khalil
Hanie Izawatie Ahmad Kamil
Sunita Sankey
Wong Tat Chung
Brendan Navin Siva
G. Nanda Goban
Kavitha Thilagar
Gan Khong Aik
Mohd Reza Abu Hassan
Noor Arianti Osman
Renny Suzanna Zaidi
Gopi Krishnan Seshadari
Megat Abdul Munir
Razanna Raslan
Elena Hani Eleas
Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna
Rabindra S. Nathan
Karen Wilfred
Edmund Milkiu
Jawatankuasa Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan Bar KL (“Jawatankuasa
CLE”) telah ditubuhkan bagi membantu perkembangan profesional
ahli-ahli Badan Peguam melalui program-program seperti ceramah,
seminar dan bengkel berkaitan dengan bidang-bidang perundangan
dan kemahiran yang relevan. Jawatankuasa CLE juga bertujuan untuk
membekalkan ilmu semasa dan kemahiran yang lain kepada ahli-ahli
supaya mereka bukan sahaja dilengkapkan dengan ilmu dalam
pelbagai bidang perundangan, malah juga dilengkapi dengan ilmu
lain yang mungkin berguna untuk amalan guaman mereka dan seterusnya
menambah nilai kepada ciri-ciri profesional mereka.
Untuk mencapai objektif-objektif sedemikian yang dapat memenuhi
keperluan pelbagai kumpulan / kategori ahli-ahli, kami telah
membahagikan program-program kami kepada 5 modul yang berbeza.
MODUL 1: ASAS AMALAN PERUNDANGAN
•
•
•
Sasaran : Objektif
: Bidang Kemahiran :
peguam muda / pelatih dalam kamar
membekalkan pengetahuan asas kepada
pelatih dalam kamar dan peguam muda
Penulisan Pendapat (Opinion Writing),
Merangka Dokumentasi Mahkamah
(Drafting Court Documents), Kemahiran
Kepeguaman (Advocacy Skills), Prosedur
/ Keterangan, Konveyansing, Dokumentasi
Korporat dan lain-lain
MODUL 2: SEMINAR KEPAKARAN KHAS
•
•
•
100
ahli-ahli peringkat pertengahan dan senior
membekalkan maklumat tentang
perkembangan-perkembangan terkini
dalam bidang perundangan yang tertentu
Bidang Kemahiran : Resolusi Pertikaian Alternatif (Alternative
Dispute Resolution), Undang-undang
Teknologi Maklumat (Information
Technology Law), Undang-undang
Insurans, Undang-undang Pentadbiran,
Undang-undang Syarikat, Undang-undang
Sekuriti, Undang-undang Jenayah dan
lain-lain
Sasaran
Objektif
: : P E N D I D I K A N U N DA N G - U N DA N G L A N J U TA N
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MODUL 3: BENGKEL PRAKTIKAL
•
•
•
Sasaran
Objektif
:
: ahli-ahli yang berminat dalam bidang kemahiran tersebut
melengkapkan para ahli dengan kemahiran penting bagi mengendalikan
perbicaraan dan pelbagai aspek praktikal lain di dalam amalan
guaman
Bidang Kemahiran : Resolusi Pertikaian Alternatif (Alternative Dispute Resolution), Undangundang Jenayah, Undang-undang Korporat dan lain-lain
MODUL 4: PROGRAM UNTUK PELATIH DALAM KAMAR
•
•
•
Berikutan dengan resolusi yang telah diluluskan di Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan 2006
Objektif
: menyediakan pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar dengan pengetahuan
asas amalan guaman
Bidang Kemahiran : Litigasi Sivil, Undang-undang Jenayah, Konveyansing, Pengurusan
Fail dan lain-lain
MODUL 5: TAJAAN BAGI PEGUAM MUDA KE PERSIDANGAN ANTARABANGSA
•
•
Objektif
: memberikan pendedahan di peringkat antarabangsa kepada ahli-ahli
Peguam-peguam yang terpilih telah menulis mengenai pengalaman mereka dalam bentuk
laporan, yang tersedia untuk diterbitkan di Relevan. Ahli-ahli boleh memuat-turunkan
bahan-bahan daripada laman web Badan Peguam KL.
Seperti tahun-tahun yang lepas, kami dengan sedaya-upaya menganjurkan program yang akan
menyumbang kepada penambahbaikan kemahiran dan perkembangan profesional ahli-ahli. Untuk
tahun ini, selain daripada menjemput peguam-peguam senior dan anggota badan kehakiman untuk
berkongsi pengalaman dan pengetahuan mereka, kami juga telah mengambil inisiatif untuk melibatkan
penyertaan pakar-pakar daripada industri yang relevan, seperti konsultan, ahli perbankan dan
akauntan. Ini bertujuan untuk memastikan bahawa ahli-ahli berpeluang mendapatkan bimbingan
secara terus daripada individu yang terlibat secara langsung dalam pelbagai industri.
Jawatankuasa CLE juga menyedari akan kepentingan menyediakan ruang interaksi yang maksimum
semasa proses pembelajaran. Berlainan dengan tahun-tahun lepas, penekanan diberikan kepada
bengkel-bengkel praktikal yang merangkumi pelbagai bidang kemahiran perundangan dan juga
undang-undang. Berikut merupakan bengkel-bengkel praktikal yang diadakan pada tahun ini.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Penulisan Perundangan Moden (Kursus Asas)
Penulisan Perundangan Moden (Kursus Lanjutan)
Bengkel Merangkap Timbangtara Latihan Bagaimana untuk Mendakwa dan Mempertahankan Kes-kes Kecederaan Peribadi
Kursus Praktikal Kepeguaman (Anjuran bersama PSDC Majlis Peguam dan Jawatankuasa CLE
Penindasan Minoriti dan Aplikasi-aplikasi Adil dan Saksama
Permohonan Harbeas Korpus
Jawatankuasa CLE juga telah meneruskan program bagi pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar yang dimulakan
pada tahun lalu. Bidang kemahiran yang diliputi di dalam seminar-seminar bagi pelatih dalam
kamar adalah seperti berikut:
•
•
•
Asas-asas Konveyansing dan Menderaf Dokumentasi Perdagangan
Asas-asas Jenayah / Litigasi Hak Asasi Manusia
Asas-asas Litigasi Sivil
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•
Prosiding Kebankrapan/Wasiat, Probet dan Pentadbiran Estet
Jawatankuasa CLE telah mengadakan sebanyak 34 acara di antara April 2007 sehingga Januari
2008 yang merangkumi bidang-bidang kemahiran seperti Undang-undang Tanah, Kepeguaman
Rayuan, Kemahiran Bahasa, Undang-undang Fitnah, Litigasi Sivil, Undang-undang Jenayah,
Undang-undang Korporat, Konveyansing dan Timbangtara (Arbitration).
Berikut merupakan senarai penuh program bagi tahun 2007/08:
TARIKH
TAJUK
20.04.2007 Kepeguaman Rayuan Berkesan
26.04.2007 Asas-asas Jenayah/Litigasi Hak
Asasi Manusia
Program Pelatih Dalam Kamar
27.04.2007 Asas-asas Litigasi Sivil
PENCERAMAH
Y.A. Dato’ James Foong
Edmund Bon
04.05.2007 Pengurusan Risiko
Corrine Wong
19.05.2007 Bengkel Penulisan Perundangan
Moden (Kursus Lanjutan)
31.05.2007 Amanah Pelaburan Hartanah
(REITS) – Pendekatan Baru
untuk Pelaburan Hartanah
Jackie Yeoh
08 &
09.06.2007
15.06.2007
22.06.2007
05.07.2007
14.07.2007
102
PENYELARAS
Brendan Navin Siva
Mohd Izral Khairy
Maidzuara Mohammed
Junaidah Abdul Rahim
Shee Fei Ling
Lim Ye Jhen
Nurizan Jalil
Bengkel Penulisan Perundangan Jackie Yeoh
Moden (Kursus Asas)
Prosiding Kebankrapan/Wasiat, GK Ganesan
Probet dan Pentadbiran Estet
Low Beng Choo
Pengambilalihan Tanah
Su Tiang Joo
– Pentingnya, sekiranya ada,
sebarang pertanyaan oleh
Pentadbir Tanah
Asas-asas Konveyansing dan
Mendraft Dokumentasi
Natalie Peh
Perdagangan
Fitnah di Ruang Siber
Dr. Venkat Iyer
Selma Enolil Binti
Mustapha Khalil
Ahmad Kamil
David Dev Peter
Mohd. Izral Khairy
18.07.2007 Petunjuk Berguna daripada
Hakim
Dato’ Shaik Daud Bin
Haji Mohamed Ismail
Jerald Gomez
20.07.2007 Pengenalan kepada Siasatan
dan Forensik Komputer
Ang Eng Seng
Nanda Goban
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21.07.2007
09.08.2007
11.08.2007
17.08.2007
22.08.2007
07.09.2007
Bengkel merangkap Timbangtara Sitpah Selvaratnam
Latihan
Raja Eileen Soraya
Sanjay Mohanasundram
Kevin Prakash
Janice Ann Leo
Alan Adrian Gomez
Foo Joon Liang
Asas-asas Jenayah / Litigasi
Amer Hamzah Arshad
Hak Asasi Manusia
Penulisan Perundangan Moden Jackie Yeoh
(Kursus Lanjutan)
Peraturan Pasaran Sekuriti
Shanti Geoffrey dari
– Pasaran Modal Baru dan
Securities Commission
Akta Perkhidmatan 2007
Akta Timbangtara 2005 – Dari Ng Jern Fei
Perspektif Pengamal Timbangtara
Antarabangsa
Asas-asas Litigasi Sivil
Mohd. Izral Khairy
Program Pelatih Dalam Kamar Cheah Soo Chuan
08.09.2007 Bengkel Bagaimana untuk
Mendakwa dan Mempertahankan
Kes-kes Kecederaan Peribadi
12.09.2007 Seksyen 340 Kanun Tanah
Negara– sebelum dan selepas
Boonsom Boonyanit
14.09.2007 Penghujahan untuk Suruhanjaya
Sekuriti. Berwaspada dengan
Seksyen 32B Akta Suruhanjaya
Sekuriti 1993 atau penggantinya
28 &
Bengkel Penulisan Perundangan
29.09.2007 Moden (Kursus Asas)
10 &
Kursus Praktikal Kepeguaman
11.10.2007 Am dengan Peguam-peguam
dari Lamb Chambers (Dianjurkan
bersama oleh PSDC Majlis
Peguam dan Jawatankuasa CLE)
Nanda Goban
Joanne Long
Santhana Dass
B. Balakumar
Razlan Hadri Zulkifli
Suresh Gerard Sreedharan
Jerald Gomez
Shamsul Bahrin
Wong Tat Chung
Jackie Yeoh
Paul Emerson
Paul Stewert
Shantanu Majumdar
Lloyd Sefton-Smith
Tim Frith
Matthew Winn-Smith
Helen Turnbull
20.10.2007 Bengkel Penulisan Perundangan Jackie Yeoh
Moden (Kursus lanjutan)
24.10.2007 Undang-undang Laut - Arahan
Sitpah Selvaratnam
Amalan bagi Penahanan
Kapal
02.11.2007 Undang-undang Pekerja
Steven Thiru
– Kemungkiran Klausa Sulit
dan Rahsia-rahsia Perniagaan
Dalam Kontrak Pekerjaan
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Joanne Long
Mohanadass Kanagasabai
Joanne Long
Gan Khong Aik
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16.11.2007 Prosiding Kebankrapan/Wasiat,
29.11.2007 Asas-asas Konveyansing dan
Penyediaan Dokumentasi
Perdagangan
05.12.2007 Dari Burger ke Idola : Masa
Depan Francais
13.12.2007 Asas-asas Jenayah / Litigasi
Hak Asasi Manusia
05.01.2008 Bengkel Penindasan Minoriti
dan Aplikasi-aplikasi Adil dan
Saksama
19.01.2008 Perbicaraan Undang-undang
Keluarga dan aplikasinya
25.01.2008 Asas-asas Litigasi Awam
18.02.2008 Satu Gambaran Keseluruhan
yang Praktikal Yang Boleh
dan Yang Tidak Boleh dalam
Penulisan Pendapat
20.02.2008 Prosiding Kebankrapan/Wasiat,
28.02.2008 Menghindari dan Menghadapi
Aduan Lembaga Disiplin
[TBC]
GK Ganesan
Low Beng Choo
Natalie Peh
Suaran Singh Sidhu
Sunita Sankey
Edmund Bon
Dato’ Loh Siew Cheang
Gopal Sreenevasan
P. Gananathan
Chew Swee Yoke
Foo Yet Ngo
Mohd. Izral Khairy
Tharminder Singh
Michael Chow
Lim Tuck Sun
Ahmad Kamil
GK Ganesan
Low Beng Choo
Jerald Gomez
Bengkel Permohonan Harbeas [TBC]
Corpus
06.03.2008 Percukaian : Pengelakan Cukai
lawan Perancangan Cukai
13.03.2008 Asas Konveyansing dan
Penyediaan Dokumen Komersial
27.03.2008 SOCSO
Nanda Goban
Vijey Mohana Krishnan
Edmund Bon
Megat Abdul Munir
Noor Arianti Othman
A. Ramadass
Kavitha Thilagar
PROGRAM TAJAAN PENDIDIKAN UNDANG-UNDANG LANJUTAN
Oleh kerana Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan bertujuan untuk mempertingkatkan lagi
kemahiran dan pengetahuan yang relevan di kalangan ahli-ahli, kami memberi ahli-ahli bantuan
dan peluang untuk mengambil bahagian dalam persidangan-persidangan yang diadakan di luar
dan juga di dalam negara. Bagi tahun ini, kami telah menaja penyertaan beberapa orang ahli ke
bengkel dan persidangan-persidangan berikut.
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Bengkel Praktikal Kepeguaman Sivil
10-11 Oktober 2007
1.
2.
3.
Poh Choo Hoe
Anita Sheila
Vasanthi Clement
Persidangan IBA 2007, Singapura
14-19 Oktober 2007
1.
2.
3.
Jacqueline Chang Li Ch’ing
Saravana Kumar s/o Segaran
Soh Hoon Hoon
Persidangan Perundangan Malaysia Ke-14
29-31 Oktober 2007
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Muhendaran a/l Suppiah
Rajasegaran M. Karuppiah
Jayamurugan s/o Vadivelu
Cheng Poh Heng
Hanie Izawatie Binti Ahmad Kamil
Maria Binti Mohd Haris
Yusfarizal Bin Yussoff
Maisurah Binti Wahid
Ding Jo-Ann
G. Nanda Goban
Abun Sui Anyit
Ani Munirah Binti Mohamad
Habizan Rahman Bin Habeeb Rahman
Tan Siew Boon
Sukhjit Kaur
Sehingga kini, respon yang diterima bagi program Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan amat
memberangsangkan dan adalah menjadi harapan Jawatankuasa CLE agar para ahli terus mendapat
faedah daripada program yang diadakan. Cabaran bagi Jawatankuasa CLE adalah untuk terus
memperbaiki program yang sedia ada supaya dapat memenuhi kehendak profesion yang sentiasa
berubah.
Saya ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada kesemua ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa CLE, penceramahpenceramah, pelatih dan penyelaras yang telah menyumbang kepada program-program yang
dianjurkan setakat ini dan terima kasih juga diucapkan kepada kesemua yang telah bersetuju
untuk mengambil bahagian dalam program-program yang akan datang. Saya juga menghulurkan
penghargaan saya kepada Azura binti Zakaria untuk dedikasi dan daya usahanya.
Abdul Rashid Ismail
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Pendidikan Undang-undang Lanjutan
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JAWATANKUASA AMALAN
KONVEYANSING
Pengerusi
Baljit Singh Sidhu
Ahli-Ahli Jawatankuasa
Amy Too Siew Mooi
Alex Chong Ching Wai
Chong Wai Kuan
Rita Sabrina Wong Kee Ling
Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing memulakan tahun ini dengan
mengadakan survey bagi mengumpul maklumbalas berkenaan
masalah-masalah yang dihadapi oleh ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala
Lumpur ketika berurusan dengan perkara-perkara yang berkaitan
dengan konveyansing. Maklumbalas yang diperolehi akan dijadikan
sebagai asas perbincangan di dalam mesyuarat bersama pihak-pihak
yang berkenaan.
MESYUARAT DENGAN PENGARAH PEJABAT TANAH WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN
Disebabkan oleh pelbagai masalah yang dibangkitkan oleh ahli-ahli
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur berkenaan Pejabat Tanah Wilayah
(“PTWP”), maka mesyuarat pertama bagi Jawatankuasa ini difokuskan
kepada PTWP. Satu mesyuarat telah diadakan pada 18.06.2007. Ia
merupakan suatu mesyuarat yang baik dan produktif dimana keduadua pihak dapat berbincang masalah atau isu berbangkit dikalangan
para ahli ketika mereka berurusan dengan PTWP. Diantara perkaraperkara yang dibincangkan di dalam mesyuarat tersebut adalah
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kehilangan hakmilik;
Keperluan untuk akuan statutori;
Pengambilan hakmilik;
Pinjaman kerajaan;
Kaveat Persendirian;
Permohonan kebenaran pindahmilik; dan
Cukai Tanah
Catatan mesyuarat ini telah pun diedarkan kepada ahli-ahli melalui
pekeliling KLBC 56/07 bertarikh 13.07.2007.
SYARAHAN BERKENAAN PINDAAN KEPADA AKTA PEMBANGUNAN
PERUMAHAN (KAWALAN & PERLESENAN), 1966 – ISU-ISU PRAKTIKAL
BERKAITAN S.22D
Di atas kekeliruan dan ketidakpastian yang dihadapi oleh ahli-ahli
berkenaan Akta Pembangunan Perumahan (Kawalan & Perlesenan),
1966, Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing telah menganjurkan dua
buah syarahan berkenaan Isu-Isu Praktikal Berkaitan S.22D pada
07.06.2007 dan 29.06.2007. Kedua-dua syarahan tersebut telah
disampaikan oleh Encik Andrew Wong, Naib Pengerusi Jawatankuasa
Amalan Konveyansing Majlis Peguam Malaysia. Kami menerima
respons yang sangat menggalakkan bagi syarahan ini, dimana di
dalam masa seminggu dari hari kami mempromosikan syarahan ini,
kesemua tempat duduk telah dipenuhi. Disebabkan jumlah tempat
duduk yang terhad, Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing terpaksa menolak
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permohonan sejumlah ahli-ahli yang ingin menghadiri
syarahan tersebut.
MESYUARAT DENGAN SURUHANJAYA SYARIKAT
MALAYSIA (“SSM”)
Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing juga
berkesempatan mengadakan mesyuarat dengan
para pegawai SSM pada 28.08.2007. Ia merupakan
satu mesyuarat yang efektif, dimana kami dapat
mengutarakan isu-isu yang memerlukan penjelasan
daripada SSM. Berikut merupakan isu-isu yang
dibincangkan di dalam mesyuarat tersebut:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Borang 34;
Pengeluaran borang;
Pemfailan / Penyerahan borang;
Pulangan Tahunan;
Carian “online”; dan
Pengesahan dokumen oleh Setiausaha Syarikat
Semasa laporan ini disediakan, catatan mesyuarat
ini telah diajukan kepada LHDN, untuk pengesahan
sebelum diedarkan kepada para ahli.
PENGHARGAAN
Saya ingin menyampaikan penghargaan saya kepada
kesemua ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing
di atas daya usaha dan dedikasi mereka di dalam
memastikan kejayaan aktiviti-aktiviti yang dijalankan
pada penggal ini. Tanpa kerjasama dan pengelibatan
aktif daripada mereka, agenda Jawatankuasa Amalan
Konveyansing bagi tahun ini tidak mungkin dapat
dilaksanakan.
Baljit Singh Sidhu
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing
Catatan mesyuarat ini telah pun diedarkan kepada ahliahli melalui pekeliling KLBC 69/07 bertarikh 13.09.2007.
MESYUARAT DENGAN JABATAN INSOLVENSI
MALAYSIA (“JIM”)
Mesyuarat ini diadakan berikutan aduan yang
dibangkitkan oleh ramai ahli berkenaan perkaraperkara yang berkait dengan JIM, terutamanya isu
berkenaan likuidator persendirian. Mesyuarat ini
diadakan pada 02.10.2007 dan ia merupakan satu
pertemuan yang efektif, dimana kami memperolehi
penjelasan daripada pegawai-pegawai JIM berkenaan
beberapa isu seperti likuidator persendirian, projek
perumahan yang terbengkalai dan mesyuarat
kreditor. Catatan mesyuarat ini telah pun diedarkan
kepada ahli-ahli melalui pekeliling KLBC 82/07
bertarikh 05.10.2007.
MESYUARAT DENGAN LEMBAGA HASIL DALAM
NEGERI (LHDN) - PEJABAT DUTI SETEM
Jawatankuasa Amalan Konveyansing dan pegawaipegawai Pejabat Duti Setem telah bermesyuarat
pada 04.12.2007. Mesyuarat ini juga disertai oleh
rakan-rakan sejawat kami dari Jawatankuasa
Amalan Konveyansing Majlis Peguam Malaysia dan
juga Badan Peguam Selangor. Di dalam mesyuarat
ini, kami telah membangkit isu-isu berkenaan pemalsuan,
Perbankan Islam, adjudikasi MOT dan juga endorsan
instrumen subsidari.
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JAWATANKUASA perhubungan
Mahkamah sivil
Pengerusi
Naib Pengerusi
Andrew Teh
Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa
Annou A. Xavier
Reggie Wong Mew Sum
Michelles Foo Li Mei
Yap Lai Lian
Arthur Wang
Harjinder Singh
Robert Low
Md. Radzi Mustafa
Habizan Rahman
Selva Rani Thiyagarajan
Patrick Lim
PERPINDAHAN MAHKAMAH
Dari April hingga Jun/Julai 2007, Jawatankuasa Perhubungan
Mahkamah Sivil telah menumpukan perhatian dan menggerakkan
usaha ke arah melancarkan proses perpindahan kesemua Mahkamah
Kuala Lumpur ke Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur, yang baru dibina
di Jalan Duta dan juga menyelesaikan masalah-masalah mungkin
atau telah berbangkit berikutan perpindahan tersebut.
Untuk memastikan bahawa kesan negatif daripada perpindahan tersebut
adalah minimum, kami telah mengadakan pertemuan yang kerap
dengan pegawai-pegawai berkaitan dari Badan Kehakiman,
JKR, Polis dan pelbagai pihak lain sebelum Kompleks Mahkamah
beroperasi dengan rasminya pada 17.05.2007. Antara contoh kerjasama
yang dilakukan adalah mencadangkan supaya perpindahan pelbagai
Bahagian Mahkamah dilakukan secara berperingkat dan bukannya
sekaligus, dan seterusnya berurusan dengan pihak Mahkamah
berkenaan jadual perpindahan dan juga senarai pembicaraan untuk
memastikan gangguan keatas kehadiran di Mahkamah adalah minimal
di sepanjang waktu tersebut; beberapa kali membuat pemeriksaan
ke atas Kompleks Mahkamah sebelum perpindahan; mengenalpasti
kepincangan struktur dan logistik Kompleks Mahkamah serta melakar
semula peta Kompleks Mahkamah yang lebih ringkas dan mesra pengguna
(peta yang dilakar semula itu, kemudiannya diubahsuai dan telah
diguna pakai oleh pihak Mahkamah dan kini ianya telah ditempatkan
di kanan dan kiri dinding pintu masuk Kompleks Mahkamah); menguruskan
Bilik Peguam tambahan di lokasi yang bersesuaian; mengadakan hari
terbuka bagi ahli-ahli Badan Peguam untuk mengenali dan membiasakan diri
dengan Kompleks Mahkamah; berunding dengan pihak Mahkamah
supaya para peguam diberikan tempat letak kereta di dalam kawasan
Mahkamah (ianya masih lagi berterusan); berunding dan mengenalpasti
ruang dan lokasi yang bersesuaian bagi Peti Dokumen (BC Box);
meninjau dan mengenalpasti kawasan yang sesuai untuk dijadikan
tempat letak kereta tambahan bagi peguam-peguam yang menghadiri
Mahkamah dan juga mengadakan perbincangan berkenaan bayaran
dengan pengusaha tempat letak kereta; mencadangkan dan dan
mendapatkan maklumat berkenaan perkhidmatan bas “shuttle” ke
Kompleks Mahkamah / berurusan dengan pihak Mahkamah berkenaan
perkara tersebut; berbincang dengan pihak Mahkamah dan Polis untuk
menangani masalah kesesakan lalulintas, kekurangan tempat letak
kereta dan lain-lain lagi.
Walaupun telah berusaha gigih dengan pihak Mahkamah untuk
melancarkan perkhidmatan van “shuttle” dengan tujuan memberi kemudahan
kepada kakitangan Mahkamah dan ahli-ahli Badan Peguam yang memerlukan,
perkhidmatan tersebut telah dihentikan berikutan timbulnya isu permit.
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Walaubagaimanapun, buat masa ini tidak timbul masalah serius berkaitan kenderaan ke Kompleks
Mahkamah. Meskipun masalah tempat letak kereta masih merupakan isu yang belum dapat diselesaikan,
usaha dari pihak kami tidak akan berkurangan dalam mendapatkan tempat letak kereta khusus
untuk para peguam di dalam kawasan Mahkamah.
AGENDA BERTERUSAN
Kesan daripada perpindahan Mahkamah, perhubungan yang baik telah terjalin dengan para pegawai
Mahkamah dan kami berharap bahawa hubungan baik ini tidak pudar dan akan terus kukuh dalam
usaha memperbaiki pentadbiran keadilan. Sasaran terdekat kami adalah menjadikan Kompleks
Mahkamah sebagai tempat yang mesra pengguna cacat (handicap-friendly), meningkatkan langkahlangkah keselamatan di kawasan Mahkamah (terdapat laporan mengenai kejadian pecah masuk kereta),
meneruskan usaha mendapatkan tempat letak kereta di dalam kawasan kompleks Mahkamah untuk
ahli-ahli Badan Peguam dan bergerak seiring dengan pihak Mahkamah ke arah litigasi elektronik dan media IT.
BORANG TINJAUAN (SURVEY) - ISU / ADUAN
Pada bulan Ogos 2007, Jawatankuasa Perhubungan Mahkamah kembali kepada objektifnya untuk
memberi khidmat kepada para ahli di dalam meyampaikan dan mengetengahkan isu/permasalahan
yang dihadapi di dalam amalan mereka, kepada pihak Mahkamah supaya penyelesaian dapat
dicapai dan untuk itu, kami telah mengedarkan borang tinjauan untuk mendapatkan maklumbalas
daripada para ahli.
MESYUARAT DENGAN JABATAN INSOLVENSI
Pada tahun ini, kami telah mengambil pendirian bahawa selain mengadakan perjumpaan dengan
pihak Kehakiman pelbagai bahagian Mahkamah, perjumpaan yang kerap dengan Jabatan Insolvensi
yang merupakan salah satu badan di dalam sistem Kehakiman, perlu dijadikan sebagai agenda tahunan.
Oleh yang demikian, kami telah mengatur dan mengadakan kunjungan hormat ke atas Timbalan Pengarah
dan juga Ketua-Ketua bagi pelbagai bahagian Jabatan Insolvensi Putrajaya pada 2.10.2007. Pelbagai
isu berkaitan kebangkrapan dan amalan penggulungan telah di dibincangkan dan minit mesyuarat bagi perjumpaan tersebut telahpun diedarkan kepada ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur. Surat
permohonan bagi mengadakan mesyuarat susulan telahpun diajukan dan kami berharap mesyuarat
susulan tersebut dapat berlangsung sebelum Mesyuarat Agung Badan Peguam KL.
MESYUARAT DENGAN PEGAWAI-PEGAWAI MAHKAMAH RENDAH
Pada 25.10.2007, kami telah bertemu dengan para Hakim, Majistret dan Pendaftar Mahkamah
Rendah di Kompleks Mahkamah Jalan Duta, di mana kami telah menyalurkan kepada pihak
Kehakiman isu-isu yang di kumpulkan daripada aduan dan cadangan ahli-ahli Badan Peguam di
sepanjang tahun ini. Pihak Kehakiman juga telah mengetengahkan pandangan dan cadangan
mereka untuk disampaikan kepada ahli-ahli. Tuan Harmindar, Hakim Kanan Mahkamah Rendah,
dan juga para pegawainya menekankan bahawa aduan adalah sepatutnya spesifik, dimana nama
serta peristiwa mestilah dikenalpasti, supaya tindakan yang sewajarnya dapat diambil. Pihak
Mahkamah juga mencadangkan agar diadakan mesyuarat tetap berkala diantara pihak peguam
dan juga pihak Kehakiman, supaya suatu hubungan yang bermakna dan efektif dapat dibentuk.
Kami mensasarkan bahawa mesyuarat yang seterusnya dilangsungkan pada bulan Februari 2008.
Terdapat kemajuan yang nyata di bahagian pendaftaran Mahkamah sejak perpindahan Mahkamah
di mana ahli-ahli Badan Peguam juga dijemput oleh Pendaftar-pendaftar untuk berurusan secara
terus dengan mereka di dalam isu-isu berkaitan pentadbiran seperti kehilangan fail atau penangguhan
pengekstrakan dan lain-lain.
MESYUARAT DENGAN BAHAGIAN-BAHAGIAN MAHKAMAH TINGGI
Bahagian Sivil - Mesyuarat dengan Hakim Utama Bahagian Sivil Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada mulanya
ditetapkan untuk berlangsung pada 11.01.2008. Namun begitu, mesyuarat tersebut telah ditangguhkan
ke tarikh yang belum ditetapkan, berikutan perpindahan Hakim Utamanya ke Bahagian Dagang.
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Bahagian Keluarga - Y.A. Dato’ Hinshawati Binti Shariff, Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman yang baru bagi
Bahagian Keluarga sangat responsif kepada permohonan kami untuk mengadakan kunjungan
hormat ke atas beliau, yang mana kemudiannya dilakukan pada 20.11.2007. Beberapa isu terkini
berkenaan Bahagian Keluarga telah dibincangkan dengan Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman. Laporan berkenaan
mesyuarat tersebut telah diedarkan kepada ahli-ahli.
Bahagian Dagang - Mesyuarat dengan Hakim Utama dan Pendaftar-pendaftar Bahagian Dagang
telah berlangsung pada 18.01.2008. Kelewatan di dalam mengaturkan mesyuarat ini disebabkan
Hakim tersebut berada di luar negara pada sebahagian besar bulan November 2007 dan bulan Disember
2007 adalah tidak bersesuaian memandangkan beliau baru sahaja pulang dari luar negara dan ia
juga merupakan waktu percutian Mahkamah. Pertukaran pandangan dan dialog ramah telah
berlangsung di dalam mesyuarat tersebut, dengan perjanjian bahawa isu-isu yang bersifat tidak
dapat ditangani dengan segera, akan disusuli pada tarikh yang kemudian. Minit mesyuarat tersebut
buat masa ini sedang dimuktamadkan untuk diedarkan kepada ahli-ahli di dalam masa yang terdekat ini.
Rayuan dan Kuasa-kuasa Khas - Y.A. Puan Lau Bee Lan telah dilantik sebagai Hakim Utama Bahagian
Rayuan dan Kuasa-Kuasa Khas dan beliau telah sudi untuk menjalankan Istiadat “Reference” pada
18.02.2008, bagi ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur yang telah meninggal dunia dalam tahun
2007 dan mesyuarat dengan Jawatankuasa Perhubungan Mahkamah akan diadakan pada 29.01.2008.
Apa yang didapati melalui pelbagai sessi dengan kesemua peringkat dan bahagian sistem Mahkamah
dan Pejabat Insolvensi, merupakan suatu perasaan kerjasama dan kesediaan untuk mengkaji dan
menyelesaikan isu-isu yang dihadapi oleh ahli-ahli Badan Peguam dan juga keazaman untuk berkerjasama
dalam mendatangkan manfaat kepada kesemua pemegang amanah di dalam pentadbiran undang-undang.
“BENCH-BAR GET-TOGETHER”
“The annual Bench & Bar Get-together” pada tahun ini diadakan pada 25.01.2008, bertempat di kawasan kolam renang “Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Club”. Perubahan lokasi acara
ini adalah untuk memberikan “kesegaran” kepada acara ini dan untuk memastikan tercapainya
matlamat bagi mencipta suasana kasual dan santai bagi ahli-ahli Badan Peguam untuk bertemu
dan mengeratkan perhubungan dengan ahli-ahli Badan Kehakiman, sekurang-kurangnya setahun
sekali. Sambutan daripada ahli-ahli Badan Peguam adalah sama seperti tahun yang lepas, dan
mungkin boleh menjadi lebih baik lagi. Namun begitu, apa yang mengejutkan jawatankuasa ini
adalah respon daripada Hakim-Hakim, di mana kehadiran mereka melebihi jangkaan.
PENGHARGAAN
Apabila laporan ini diterbitkan, adalah diharapkan agar kesemua aktiviti yang dirancang telah
berlangsung dengan jayanya.
Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini menyampaikan ucapan terima kasih kepada kesemua ahliahli Jawatankuasa Perhubungan Mahkamah di atas sumbangan mereka yang tidak terhingga dari
segi masa, usaha dan idea (yang saya amat hargai) di dalam memastikan perancangan yang dibuat
mendatangkan hasil. Penghargaan istimewa buat (bukan di dalam susunan tertentu) Andrew Teh,
Harjinder Singh, Arthur Wang, Robert Low, Yap Lai Lian, Annou Xavier, Reggie Wong, Michelles Foo,
Habizan Rahman, Patrick Lim, Selva Rani dan Md. Radzi.
Saya juga berterima kasih kepada rakan sejawat saya di Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur di atas kerjasama
dan bantuan yang diberikan. Akhir sekali penghargaan juga ditujukan kepada Mary dan Azura dari
Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur, kerana tanpa mereka, Jawatankuasa ini tidak
mungkin dapat berfungsi dengan efektif.
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Perhubungan Mahkamah Sivil
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JAWATANKUASA AMALAN
Jenayah
Pengerusi
N.Sivananthan Naib Pengerusi
Abd. Shukor Bin Ahmad Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa
Suresh Thanabalasingam
Bernard Francis
Venkateswari Alagendra
Saha Deva Arunasalam
Sivaruben R. Balasekaran
Ken Yong Chie Man
Mohd Zaharudeen Harun
Lee Teong Hooi
Jawatankuasa Amalan Jenayah (“JAJ”) ditubuhkan dengan tujuan
utama memastikan kewujudan sebuah badan secara khususnya
bertumpu kepada isu-isu berkenaan ahli-ahli Badan Peguam di Kuala
Lumpur dan badan-badan lain yang terlibat dalam mengamalkan undangundang jenayah.
Pada tahun ini JAJ telah terlibat dalam beberapa aktiviti seperti
berikut:GAMBARAN KESELURUHAN
Semenjak ditubuhkan, JAJ telah mengadakan pertemuan sebanyak 6
kali dan telah sering mengadakan mesyuarat dengan Hakim Kanan
Bahagian Jenayah berkenaan perkara-perkara berkaitan dengan
pentadbiran keadilan jenayah di Kuala Lumpur. Pandangan JAJ juga
telah diminta sebelum mahkamah trafik malam ditubuhkan dan
ia juga mengambil bahagian dalam semua mesyuarat untuk
membincangkan yang sama. Pengerusi dan Timbalan Pengerusi JAJ
juga ke Kota Kinabalu untuk mengkaji sistem mahkamah malam yang
diamalkan di sana untuk memerhatikan apa juga kelemahankelemahannya sebelum sistem itu diperkenalkan di sini.
JAJ juga telah berbincang dengan Hakim Kanan Bahagian Jenayah
Mahkamah Rendah tentang memperkenalkan “borang mengaku
salah” di mana ianya telah diamalkan di Malaysia Timur. JAJ pada
masa ke semasa juga mengambil pendirian ke atas isu-isu kepentingan
awam dan kenyataannya telah mendapat liputan akhbar.
PROGRAM DOCK BRIEF
Ia telah sampai ke pengetahuan JAJ bahawa Majistret-Majistret tidak
lagi membenarkan pelatih dalam kamar (“pelatih”) untuk hadir di
dalam Mahkamah Terbuka atas sebab Seksyen 36(2)(b) Akta Profesion
Undang Undang 1976 yang tidak membenarkan pelatih berbuat
demikian.
JAJ telah berpendapat bahawa apabila permohonan telah dibuat oleh
Pengajar bagi pihak pelatihnya, Seksyen 36(2)(b) akan berkuatkuasa
pada ketika Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi membuat perintah yang
relevan dan peruntukan seksyen ini adalah tidak dipertikaikan. Seksyen
36(2)(b) menyatakan bahawa pada tamatnya tempoh 3 bulan, pelatih
boleh menghadiri “dalam Kamar di Mahkamah Tinggi dan Mahkamah
Rendah”, yang mana ianya secara jelas merujuk kepada kedua-dua
Mahkamah iaitu Mahkamah Majistret dan Mahkamah Sesyen.
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Seterusnya seksyen ini menyatakan bahawa pelatih boleh juga hadir ”dihadapan mana-mana Majistret,
untuk menjalankan apa jua kausa atau perkara” yang mana secara jelasnya menggambarkan
hak untuk hadir di dalam apa jua perkara dihadapan Majistret. Adalah pada pandangan JAJ bahawa
kedudukan bagi perkara dalam kamar telah meliputi bahagian pertama Seksyen 36(2)(b) dan
bahagian keduanya mesti dibaca secara berasingan memandangkan ia akan nampak kurang logik
bagi bahagian kedua untuk diperkenalkan sedangkan bahagian pertama telahpun merujuk kepada
Mahkamah Rendah.
Pada masa kini terdapat suatu penyemakan terhadap keputusan seorang Majistret tetapi malangnya
tiada tarikh di tetapkan kerana pada ketika ini tiada Hakim Kanan dilantik untuk Bahagian Jenayah
Mahkamah Tinggi.
Suatu mesyuarat juga telah diadakan dalam bulan November antara Hakim Penyelia Mahkamah
Sesyen dan Majistret Bahagian Jenayah untuk membincangkan masalah berterusan yang sedang
dihadapi oleh pelatih semasa Bahagian mengambil bahagian dalam Program Dock Brief. Mesyuarat
itu juga dihadiri oleh Pengerusi JAJ, Ketua Pusat Bantuan Guaman, Pentadbir Pusat Bantuan
Guaman, Ketua Program Dock Brief dan Setiausahanya. Banyak isu-isu tertunggak telah di atasi
untuk memastikan bahawa program ini berjalan dengan lancar.
HAK PELATIH UNTUK MENEMUDUGA BANDUAN DALAM PENJARA
Suatu aduan telah diterima oleh JAJ bahawa pihak Berkuasa Penjara terutamanya di Penjara Sungai
Buloh telah menolak permohonan pelatih untuk menemuduga banduan sama ada secara sendirian
atau apabila menemani peguam lain. JAJ telah menulis kepada Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian
Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penjara Malaysia dan mereka dengan
segera memberi arahan kepada penjara berkenaan untuk membatalkan arahan tersebut. Kami
telah memaklumkan pihak-pihak berkenaan bahawa pelatih-pelatih memberi satu khidmat yang
sangat berguna kepada banduan melalui lawatan-lawatan mingguan mereka dengan memberi
nasihat dan sebagainya. Kami diberi keyakinan oleh pihak berkuasa penjara bahawa bantuan seperti
ini amat dihargai dan arahan itu adalah akibat daripada salah faham pihak pegawai rendah penjara.
MESYUARAT BERSAMA KETUA PENDAKWARAYA KUALA LUMPUR
Perkara yang dibincangkan adalah seperti berikut:i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Permohonan dokumen-dokumen;
Prosedur Reman dibawah seksyen 117 Kod Prosedur Jenayah;
Isu-isu mengenai representasi berbilang;
Perkara lain.
Isu Pertama - Permohonan dokumen-dokumen
Puan Sarala merasa kesal bahawa pihak beliau masih menerima banyak permohonan dokumendokumen terutamanya bagi kes-kes di Mahkamah Majistret yang mana ianya bukan ditangani oleh
pihak beliau secara terus tetapi oleh pihak Polis. Beliau meminta bantuan JAJ untuk memaklumkan
ahli-ahli bahawa permohonan dokumen-dokumen seharusnya, bagi kes-kes dalam Mahkamah
Majistret, dibuat secara terus kepada pihak Polis dan sepertimana dipersetujui sebelumnya, dokumendokumen akan diserahkan pada hari sebutan, jika ia tidak diberikan lebih awal oleh pihak
Polis. Ketua Pegawai di Mahkamah (“KP Mahkamah”) juga mengetahui bahawa Pegawai Pendakwa
(“PP”) telah diarahkan untuk menyerahkan dokumen-dokumen dengan segera pada tarikh sebutan,
jika mereka tidak diberikan sebelumnya.
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Puan Sarala juga perhatikan bahawa terdapat beberapa permohonan kekurangan butir-butir dan
beliau menyatakan bahawa bagi mendapatkan permohonan itu disemak, maklumat berikut perlu
dinyatakan dalam permohonan itu:i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
nombor kes;
nombor laporan polis;
butir-butir mahkamah;
tarikh sebutan terakhir, jika ada;
tarikh baru sebutan / pendengaran , jika ada.
Isu Ke-2 - Prosedur Reman
KP Mahkamah memaklumkan semua yang hadir bahawa prosedur reman dilaksanakan di
Mahkamah Majistret No. 10 dan akan dijalankan di Mahkamah Terbuka. Mesyuarat juga dimaklumkan
bahawa memandangkan ianya adalah prosiding di Mahkamah Terbuka, maka ianya adalah sukar
untuk mengawal kemasukkan ahli-ahli awam termasuk ahli keluarga mereka. Ia juga dibawa ke
perhatian Mesyuarat bahawa peguam-peguam yang menghadiri prosiding reman tidak akan
dibenarkan memasuki Mahkamah sehingga kes anak guam masing-masing di panggil untuk
prosiding reman itu.
Pendirian JAJ adalah bahawa prosedur itu mungkin kurang memuaskan kerana peguam seharusnya
mempunyai akses kepada anakguam mereka kerana selalunya peguam akan dilantik oleh ahli
keluarga anakguam mereka dan seseorang yang akan direman berkemungkinan tidak mengetahui
tentang pelantikan peguam itu. JAJ mencadangkan bahawa pegawai polis, setakat mana yang
boleh menentukan sama ada seseorang yang akan direman telah, sama ada oleh dirinya sendiri
atau ahli keluarganya, melantik seorang peguam.
Berhubung dengan ini, kedua-dua Unit Pendakwaan dan JAJ bersetuju bahawa proses reman yang
sedia ada adalah tidak memuaskan terutama berkenaan aspek logistic dan keselamatan. Maka
dicadangkan bahawa kedua-dua pihak berjumpa dengan Hakim Kanan Mahkamah Sesyen bagi
menyelesaikan isu ini.
KP Mahkamah membangkitkan isu pelatih dalam kamar hadir di prosiding reman. JAJ secara jelasnya
berpandangan bahawa pelatih, dengan syarat bahawa mereka telah “short called” dibenarkan
dalam undang-undang untuk berbuat demikian. JAJ juga menegaskan bahawa pada masa yang
lalu pelatih telah diberi kebenaran untuk hadir pada prosiding reman tanpa sebarang halangan.
Puan Sarala bersetuju bahawa pelatih boleh hadir untuk prosiding reman apabila mereka telah di
“short called”.
Satu lagi sub-isu adalah kehadiran peguam-peguam menjalankan arahan memerhati (“watching
brief”) semasa prosiding reman. Puan Sarala tertanya-tanya sama ada peguam boleh hadir pada
prosiding itu. JAJ menegaskan bahawa sama ada seorang peguam boleh hadir atau tidak adalah
diputuskan oleh pihak Mahkamah. Ia telah dipersetujui bahawa sekiranya Pegawai Penyiasat
(“IO”) mempersoalkan kehadiran peguam yang sedang menjalan arahan memerhati beliau boleh,
pada permulaan prosiding, menyatakan bantahan kepada pihak Mahkamah dan kemudiannya
memohon kepada pihak Mahkamah untuk memutuskannya ke atas isu itu terlebih dahulu sebelum
meneruskan prosiding reman.
Puan Sarala juga membangkitkan isu autoriti yang disebutkan semasa prosiding reman yang mana
IO tidak boleh membalas tanpa persediaan. JAJ berpendapat bahawa menyebut tentang autoriti
seharusnya dibenarkan dan ia adalah terpulang kepada PP untuk memohon waktu untuk
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menimbangkan autoriti yang dipetik atau meminta nasihat lanjut daripada pihak Unit Pendakwaan.
Isu Ke-3 - Representasi Berbilang
Unit Pendakwaan mengulangi bahawa mereka tidak akan menyediakan dokumen-dokumen yang
mana telah diberikan terlebih dahulu kepada peguam terdahulu. Peguam baru seharusnya mendapatkan
dokumen-dokumen itu daripada peguam terdahulu melainkan dalam kes-kes luarbiasa, dokumendokumen sepertinya boleh diberikan.
Isu Ke-4 – Perkara lain
Puan Sarala memaklumkan pada yang hadir bahawa pada 15.07.2007 pendakwaan di Mahkamah
Sesyen akan diserahkan kepada pihak polis kecuali bagi kes kelas tertentu yang dikategorikan
sebagai kes-kes kepentingan awam dianggap perlu oleh Ketua Unit Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala
Lumpur dan/atau Ibu Pejabat, Jabatan Peguam Negara, Putrajaya.
BANTUAN KEPADA AHLI-AHLI YANG MENGHADAPI KESUKARAN DENGAN PIHAK BERKUASA
Pada setiap masa, ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Amalan Jenayah bersedia untuk menyediakan dan
sesungguhnya telah menyediakan bantuan kepada mana-mana ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur
yang memerlukan sebarang bantuan. Ini termasuk pengendalian dengan pihak Mahkamah melalui
perbincangan yang diadakan di Bahagian Jenayah, Mahkamah Rendah Kuala Lumpur, pihak polis
dan Bahagian Pendakwaan dan Pendaftar Bahagian Jenayah Mahkamah Rendah Kuala Lumpur.
PENGHARGAAN
Saya ingin menyampaikan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada ahli Jawatankuasa Amalan
Jenayah atas sokongan dan kerjasama mereka dalam memastikan bahawa semua aktivitiaktiviti dijalankan dengan jayanya. Saya juga ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada
semua pihak, di atas kerjasama dan tumpuan mereka yang terlibat di dalam aktiviti-aktiviti yang
dijalankan pada penggal ini. Saya dengan seikhlasnya berharap bahawa segala usaha jawatankuasa
ini sedikit sebanyak dapat memudahkan perjalanan ke arah perubahan yang positif bagi pengamal
undang-undang jenayah.
N. Sivananthan
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Amalan Jenayah
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JAWATANKUASA Undang-Undang
Alam sekitar
Pengerusi
Asmet Nasruddin
Wong Ee Lynn
Karen Kimkana
P. Rajasundram
Rajinder Kaur Gill
Syarifah Syazwani Syed Hussin
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar 2007/08 telah
mengadakan mesyuarat pertamanya pada 05.04.2008. Sambutan
yang diterima daripada ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur adalah
meggalakkan apabila 11 orang ahli telah menyertai Jawatankuasa
ini. Sebilangan ahli Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar bagi
2007/08, juga merupakan ahli bagi Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang
Alam Sekitar 2006/07.
Di dalam mesyuaratnya yang pertama, Jawatankuasa ini telah pun bersetuju
untuk meneruskan projek dari tahun 2006/07 yang masih belum selesai.
Berikut merupakan projek-projek yang telah dilaksanakan oleh
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar 2007/08.
PENGUATKUASAAN DAN PENTADBIRAN
PERHUTANAN DAN PERDAGANGAN
UNDANG-UNDANG
Pada awal penggal ini, Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar
telah terlibat di dalam panel perbincangan mengenai “Voluntary
Partnership Agreement (VPA) Malaysia Europe Commission Forest
Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT)” yang diadakan
pada 06.03.2007 dan telah memberikan nasihat dan komen dari segi
perangkaan dan perundanganVPA. Sebagai Pengerusi Jawatankuasa,
saya telah menyertai panel perbincangan yang yang diadakan di
Kementerian Perusahaan Perladangan dan Komoditi
MALAYSIAN FOREST DIALOGUE - CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING
AND FINANCING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar juga telah dijemput
untuk menyertai “Malaysian Forest Dialogue – Challenges In
Implementing and Financing Sustainable Forest Management”
anjuran HSBC Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. yang diadakan dari 22.10.2007
hingga 23.10.2007. Objektif bagi sessi dialog ini antaranya ialah
untuk meningkatkan kesedaran dan berkongsi maklumat berkenaan
aspek-aspek yang mempengaruhi perdagangan berkaitan perhutanan;
dan juga membincangkan realiti praktikal di dalam mengimplementasi
dan membiayai pengurusan perhutanan mampan. Dialog ini telah
dihadiri oleh saya dan Karen Kimkana.
PERSIDANGAN KEBANGSAAN DAN LATIHAN “LEGISLATION AND
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN INTEGRATED WATER
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IWRM)”
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar dibawah naungan Majlis
Peguam telah berusahasama dangan NAHRIM, CapNET dan AguaJaring
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di dalam mengadakan “Legislation and Institutional Arrangements in Integrated Water
Resources Management National Conference and Training”, yang diadakan pada 09-14 Julai
2007 di Suruhanjaya Sekuriti. Asmet Nasruddin dan Malik Imtiaz sebagai wakil Badan Peguam,
telah membentangkan kertas kerja untuk sessi seminar dan program latihan; dan 2 orang ahli Badan
Peguam telah menyertai persidangan dan program latihan tersebut.
Persidangan dan program ini dimatlamatkan untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada siri di Asia Tenggara
di dalam menguatkan implementasi proses IWRM di rantau ini. Isu-isu berbangkit berkenaan perundangan
dan institusi akan menjadi lebih penting di dalam konteks inisiatif pihak kerajaan dan swasta di
rantau ini ke atas alam sekitar dan air, sebagai isu strategik dan persamaan.
Persidangan ini merupakan pengenalan kepada topik untuk audiens yang lebih luas dan dihadiri
oleh ahli perundangan, jurutera, saintis, “environmentalist” dari sektor awam dan juga swasta,
badan bukan kerajaan dan pelbagai pihak yang berminat. Program ini juga dihadiri oleh kumpulan
terpilih, yang terdiri daripada “senior policy maker”, “opinion leaders” dan pelatih berpotensi daripada
rantau Asia Tenggara.
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar berharap akan mengadakan program latihannya
sendiri pada tahun hadapan untuk ahli-ahli Badan Peguam.
KARBON KREDIT / PERUBAHAN CUACA
Sebagai susulan ke atas minat Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar ke atas isu berkaitan
Protokol Kyoto dan Karbon Kredit, ahli kami, Karen Kimkana telah menulis artikel bertajuk “What
Does the Future Holds” yang akan diterbitkan di dalam Relevan keluaran 3/07. Bahagian kedua
artikel berkenaan akan juga di terbitkan di dalam Relevan.
LAWATAN KE PUSAT PERLINDUNGAN GAJAH KUALA GANDAH
Lawatan 1 hari ke Pusat Perlindungan Gajah Kuala Gandah telah diadakan pada 03.11.2007.
Lawatan ini telah disertai oleh 48 ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur, termasuk sahabat dan ahli
keluarga masing-masing. Kebanyakan peserta berpeluang memberi makan dan memandikan
gajah-gajah di pusat perlindungan tersebut. Daripada kutipan yuran penyertaan, Jawatankuasa
Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar telah menyumbangkan RM665.00 kepada Pusat Perlindungan Gajah
Kuala Gandah.
AKTA KUALITI ALAM SEKITAR (AKAS) 2007
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar juga terlibat di dalam panel perbincangan berkenaan
pindaan ke atas AKAS, yang mana Akta tersebut telah pun diluluskan dan diwartakan. Jawatankuasa
Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar telah memohon untuk bertemu dengan Timbalan Menteri Sumber
Asli dan Alam Sekitar bagi membincangkan kebimbangan kami mengenai pindaan yang menggabungkan
bukti prima facie bagi beberapa kesalahan, di bawah Akta yang dipinda.
RANG UNDANG-UNDANG PENGURUSAN SISA PEPEJAL D\DAN PEMBERSIHAN AWAM 2007
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar buat masa ini sedang mengkaji cadangan Rang UndangUndang Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal dan Pembersihan Awam. Kami berharap dapat bertemu dengan
Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan untuk mengetengahkan kepada beliau berkenaan
isu-isu berbangkit berkaitan perundangan. Kami difahamkan bahawa cadangan Rang UndangUndang tersebut dijadualkan untuk dibaca di Parlimen di dalam tahun hadapan.
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PERSIDANGAN ANTARABANGSA “WASTE TO WEALTH”
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar telah dijemput menyertai persidangan “Waste to
Wealth” yang diadakan di PWTC dari 26 hingga 28 November 2007. Rajinder Kaur Gill telah menyertai
persidangan 3 hari tersebut sebagai wakil Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar. Persidangan
tersebut telah membincangkan isu sisa buangan pepejal dari segi teknikal; dan beberapa isu
seperti implementasi pengurusan sisa pepejal di Malaysia, pengurangan pemanasan global serta
kitar semula telah menarik minat kami.
AUDIT TENAGA
Pada tahun ini, Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar telah memulakan amalan audit tenaga
di bangunan Majlis Peguam. Audit tenaga tersebut telah diketuai oleh Wong Ee Lynn, dan dibantu
oleh kakitangan Sekretariat Majlis Peguam. Kumpulan yang terlibat di dalam audit tenaga tersebut
telah mengumpulkan statistik dan buat masa ini sedang berkerjasama dengan Ketua Pegawai
Eksekutif dalam mengimplementasikan pelbagai langkah untuk mengurangkan penggunaan tenaga
di Sekretariat. Diharapkan dengan pengimplementasian cadangan jawatankuasa audit, Majlis
Peguam dapat mengurangkan bill elektrik dan juga penggunaan tenaga di Sekretariat.
INAUGURAL MALAYSIAN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE 2007 - STARTING ON THE
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY JOURNEY
Memandangkan pada tahun ini Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar terlibat secara aktif
di dalam audit tenaga, kami berpandangan bahawa melalui persidangan sebegini, ahli-ahli kami
dapat menambahkan pengetahuan dan pendedahan mengenai isu-isu terkini berkaitan “sustainable
energy”. Oleh yang demikian, Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar telah mengambil inisiatif
menghantar 2 orang ahlinya menyertai “Inaugural Malaysian Sustainable Energy Conference” yang
telah dianjurkan oleh “Centre for Environment, Technology & Development, Malaysia (CETDEM)”
dari 05.11.2007 hingga 06.11.2007. Wong Ee Lynn dan Syarifah Syazwani telah ditaja oleh
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur bagi menyertai persidangan ini.
TAYANGAN AMAL
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar telah menganjurkan tayangan amal filem “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”. Tayangan amal tersebut yang diadakan pada 22.12.2007 di GSC Berjaya
Times Square adalah bertujuan bagi mengumpul dana untuk Kem Alam Sekitar Kanak-Kanak
yang dijangka akan dianjurkan oleh Jawatankuasa ini pada tahun 2008. 48 tiket kelas “premier”
telah dijual dan jamuan turut diadakan sebelum tayangan bermula.
KESIMPULAN
Akhir sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada kesemua ahli Jawatankuasa UndangUndang Alam Sekitar di atas sokongan dan usaha yang telah diberikan di dalam menjayakan
acara-acara yang tersebut diatas. Saya juga ingin menyampaikan penghargaan saya kepada para
ahli yang sanggup berkorban masa untuk menghadiri mesyuarat, persidangan dan juga acaraacara anjuran Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Alam Sekitar.
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JAWATANKUASA Teknologi
Maklumat
Pengerusi
Raja Riza Shazmin
1.
Sebagai kesinambungan fokus utama jawatankuasajawantankuasa sebelum ini, yang telah bertungkus lumus
untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan pendaftaran secara online
(termasuk tetapi tidak terhad kepada proses pendaftaran
pelatihan dalam kamar), tahun ini Jawatankuasa Teknologi
Maklumat telah berusaha untuk meningkatkan lagi perkhidmatan
ini kepada ahli-ahlinya. Ini telah dilakukan melalui :
1.1
Dengan mengadakan mesyuarat dan perbincangan
dengan pembekal servis (service provider) yang sediaada.
1.2
Dengan memperolehi suatu khidmat semi dedicated
server hosting yang baru.
1.3
Peningkatan khidmat teknologi maklumat di Bilik-bilik Peguam
di Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur di Jalan Duta;
dan
2.
1.4
Memperolehi khidmat pegawai teknologi maklumat.
MESYUARAT DAN PERBINCANGAN YANG DIADAKAN DENGAN
PEMBEKAL KHIDMAT (‘SERVICE PROVIDER’)
2.1
3.
PEROLEHAN “SEMI DEDICATED SERVER HOSTING SERVICE”
YANG BARU
3.1
Dalam bulan Disember 2007, kami telah memperolehi
suatu “semi dedicated server hosting service” yang
lebih canggih.
3.2
Dengan adanya penambahan dari segi ahli, keperluan
untuk “semi dedicated server hosting service” yang
baru ini adalah nyata untuk mengendalikan dengan
jayanya pengaliran keluar masuk emel dan lain-lain
antara Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur dengan
ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur.
Naib Pengerusi
Steven Wong
Abdul Rashid Ismail
M. Reza Hassan
Deepak Pillai
Norliza Rasool Khan
Mohd Izral Khairy
Krishna Roy Sreenivasan
GK Ganesan
Dato’ Muzzafirah Ahmad Fairuz
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T E K N O L O G I M A K L U M AT
Mesyuarat dan perbincangan dengan pembekal khidmat yang sedia ada dan juga dengan pembekal khidmat
yang lainnya telah diadakan untuk mendapatkan ideaidea baru dalam meningkatkan lagi perkhidmatanperkhidmatan yang diberi oleh Jawatankuasa Peguam
kepada ahli-ahlinya.
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3.2.1 Ini juga adalah untuk memastikan bahawa ahli- ahli dapat menikmati sepenuhnya
perkhidmatan yang diberi.
3.2.2 Semi dedicated server hosting service yang baru ini juga adalah untuk memastikan
bahawa pengeluaran eNewsletter secara online diadakan dengan jayanya.
4.
PENINGKATAN PERKHIDMATAN SERVIS TEKNOLOGI MAKLUMAT DI BILIK-BILIK PEGUAM DI
KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUALA LUMPUR DI JALAN DUTA.
4.1
Adalah diketahui bahawa Teknologi Maklumat pada hari ini semakin meningkat
dan berkembang kepada tahap yang amat mengagumkan. Dengan itu, kami
berusaha untuk memastikan khidmat teknologi maklumat di Bilik-bilik Peguam di
Mahkamah Jalan Duta berada ditahap yang memuaskan.
4.2
Kami berharap agar dapat memperlengkapkan bilik-bilik peguam dengan komputer
dan program komputer termasuk juga kemudahan internet untuk memudahkan
lagi ahli-ahli untuk mengakses informasi dengan kadar yang lebih pantas dan serta
- merta, dimana ianya adalah amat penting di dalam dunia teknlogi maklumat hari ini.
5.
CADANGAN UNTUK MENDAPATKAN PERKHIDMATAN PEGAWAI TEKNOLOGI MAKLUMAT
SEPENUH MASA.
5.1
Menyedari keperluan untuk mengukuhkan lagi penyeliaan urusan teknologi maklumat
di Sekretariat, kami berpendapat bahawa seorang pegawai teknologi maklumat harus
di ambil bekerja sepenuh masa.
5.2
Ketika laporan ini dibuat, kami sedang menyusun atur skop kerja pegawai teknologi
maklumat tersebut dan kami berharap agar jawatan ini diiklankan di dalam
suratkhabar dan juga secara online.
5.2.1 Adalah dijangkakan bahawa pegawai teknologi maklumat tersebut akan
bekerjasama dengan Sekretariat dan secara tidak langsung ini dapat meningkatkan
lagi perkhidmatan Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur kepada ahli-ahlinya.
5.2.2 Ini juga dapat memastikan bahawa segala hal-hal berkenaan teknologi maklumat di
Sekretariat dapat di tangani dengan lebih efisien.
6.
PAMERAN TEKNOLOGI MAKLUMAT JAWATANKUASA PEGUAM KUALA LUMPUR
6.1
7.
LAMAN WEB BADAN PEGUAM KUALA LUMPUR
7.1
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur akan mengadakan satu Pameran Teknologi
Maklumat pada 21.02.2008 di Hotel Legend, bersempena dengan Mesyuarat
Agung Tahunan Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur, untuk membolehkan ahli-ahli
meneliti produk-produk teknologi maklumat terkini yang terdapat dalam pasaran
di dunia teknologi maklumat hari ini. Kami berharap agar ahli-ahli akan mendapat
manfaat daripada Pameran Teknologi Maklumat ini memandangkan dunia hari ini
menuju ke era “paperless”.
Laman web Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur masih terus merekodkan lawatan
harian yang baik. Ia merekodkan lawatan lebih kurang 30,000 sehari secara purata.
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7.2
Pengiklanan di dalam laman web Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur tahun ini telah
menghasilkan pendapatan sebanyak RM33,450 berbanding sejumlah RM25,400
pada tahun 2006/07 dan RM19,250 pada 2005/06 untuk Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur.
8.
PENGHARGAAN
8.1
Saya ingin mengucapkan jutaan terima kasih kepada ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Teknologi
Maklumat yang telah meluangkan masa dan tenaga untuk memastikan perkhidmatan
yang terbaik diberi kepada ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur.
8.2
Saya juga ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada Mary, Melissa, Indra dan Rajan di
Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur di atas sokongan yang diberikan.
8.3
Akhir kata, saya berharap ahli-ahli akan memperolehi manfaat daripada
perkhidmatan yang diberi dan diperkenalkan. Kami sentiasa mengalu-alukan
sebarang cadangan dan komen untuk membolehkan kami meningkatkan perkhidmatan
yang lebih efisien dan terbaik menurut kemampuan kami.
Raja Riza Shazmin
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Teknologi Maklumat
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JAWATANKUASA penerbitan
Pengerusi
Brendan Navin Siva
RELEVAN penggal ini telah memperkenalkan muka hadapan yang
baru dalam usaha untuk menampilkan imej yang baru.
Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa
Cheng Poh Heng
Nicole Wee
Rishwant Singh
Brent Yap Hon Yean
Yudistra Darma Dorai
Shanmuga Kanesalingam
Sudharsanan Thillainathan
Sukhjit Kaur Gill
Audrey Quay Sook Lyn
S. Saravana Kumar
Jawatankuasa Penerbitan pada mesyuarat pertamanya memutuskan
bahawa ia akan menerbitkan 4 isu terbitan bagi tahun 2007/2008.
Terbitan pertama telah dikeluarkan pada April 2007, diikuti dengan
terbitan ke-2 pada Julai 2007. Pada masa penulisan laporan ini,
terbitan-terbitan ke-3 dan ke-4 telah dijadualkan untuk penerbitan
pada Disember 2007 and Januari 2008 masing-masing.
Objektif-objektif Jawatankuasa Penerbitan adalah untuk membawa
perhatian kepada isu-isu yang menjejaskan profesion undangundang dan pentadbiran keadilan dan juga perkara-perkara yang
berkenaan dengan kepentingan awam. Jawatankuasa Penerbitan
telah membuat suatu percubaan untuk didorong oleh isu-isu
semasa dan dengan secara aktif mendapatkan sumbangansumbangan daripada ahli-ahli dalam isu-isu yang dianggap penting
kepada peguam.
Kami telah cuba untuk menekankan arah-arah aliran dalam profesion
guaman, misalnya blawgs, dan aktiviti-aktiviti Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur, seperti Charity Nite. Artikel-artikel berkenaan dengan
isu-isu dan perkembangan undang-undang dan pengamalan undangundang juga disorotkan. Terdapat juga percubaan sengaja untuk
mengimport sumbangan-sumbangan dan artikel-artikel dari sumbersumber luar negeri termasuk ucapan-ucapan para hakim dari negaranegara komanwel yang lain dan transkrip kertas-kertas yang diberikan
sebagai sebahagian daripada program Pendidikan Undang-undang
Lanjutan negara yang lain.
Walaubagaimanapun, adalah dikesali bahawa jumlah artikel yang
diterima daripada ahli-ahli terus mengikuti arah aliran yang menurun
seperti pada tahun-tahun lepas. Relevan juga menghadapi soalansoalan serius yang perlu diselesaikan dan diatasi pada penggal yang
akan datang. Memandangkan peningkatan kepopularan blogs, lamanlaman web, forum-forum dan perlengkapan rangkaian sosial lain yang
tersedia dalam internet, penerbitan salinan cetak jenis lama seperti
Relevan akan terus menghadapi kesukaran dalam menarik perhatian
ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur. Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Penerbitan
penggal yang akan datang menghadapi tugas untuk mengubah atau
merekasemula penerbitan ini untuk menempuhi persaingan-persaingan
tersebut.
Relevan tidak akan terhasil tanpa masa, usaha dan pengorbanan ahli-
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ahli jawatankuasanya dan penulis-penulis yang menyumbang. Rekaan
dan susun atur yang baru dan pendekatan baru terhadap isi kandungan
adalah sebahagian besar disebabkan oleh usaha mereka.
Brendan Navin Siva
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Penerbitan
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P E N E R B I TA N
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JAWATANKUASA Hal Ehwal
Pelatih dalam kamar
Pengerusi
Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa
Lee Chooi Peng
Susamma Thomas
Hairul Azam Bin Hambali
Ally Chong Wai Kuan
Dipendra A/L Harshad Rai
Sarah Kambali
Sandesh Kabir Singh
Edward Saw Keat Leong
STRUKTUR
Jawatankuasa Hal-ehwal Pelatih Dalam Kamar (“PWC”) telah di tukar
struktur pada permulaan penggal. Untuk penggal ini, PWC terdiri daripada
3 unit, iaitu :
a.
Unit Utama yang mana ahli-ahlinya adalah seperti
nama-nama diatas;
b.
Panel Penasihat yang termasuk 3 ahli-ahli Badan
Peguam yang “senior”:1.
Puan Hendon bt Haji Mohamed
2.
En Dennis Appaduray
3.
En Lim Chee Wee
c.
Unit Perwakilan Pelatih Dalam Kamar yang termasuk
beberapa pelatih dalam kamar (“pelatih”).
Unit Utama bertanggungjawab untuk kebanyakan projek dan pelan
jawatankuasa ini. Panel Penasihat ditubuhkan dengan tujuan untuk
memberi nasihat dan tunjuk ajar kepada ahli-ahli PWC tentang isu-isu
berkaitan dengan pelatihan dalam kamar.
Unit Perwakilan Pelatih Dalam Kamar pula mempunyai keahlian yang
sentiasa bertukar; kerana pelatih yang telah diterima masuk kedalam
Badan Peguam akan meninggalkan unit ini, dan pelatih yang baru
pula, mengambil alih tempat ahli-ahli itu.Tujuan utama Unit ini adalah
untuk memberi pendapat dan idea kepada Unit Utama. Kewujudan
Unit ini amat membantu Unit Utama semasa merancang projek-projek
PWC, memandangkan kami menerima pandangan pelatih secara terus.
PROJEK-PROJEK
Berikut adalah projek-projek utama PWC:1.
Pupils’ Pamphlet
Risalah berwarna biru yang dicetak pada kertas bersaiz A4
dan dilipat menjadi risalah kecil; telah diterima hangat oleh
pelatih-pelatih. Pelatih kini tidak perlu mencari nasihat dari
pelatih lain berkenaan kaedah-kaedah berkenaan pelatihan
dalam kamar. Sebaliknya Risalah ini menjadi suatu panduan
kepada Pelatih-pelatih.
Salinan Risalah ini sediaada di Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur, Bilik Peguam di Mahkamah dan di Kaunter Bahagian
Rayuan Dan Kuasa-kuasa Khas (RKKK) di Mahkamah Tinggi
Kuala Lumpur.
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2.
Seminar dan Workshop
•
PWC menganjurkan beberapa seminar yang bertema ‘The Whole Nine Yard’ di Universiti-universiti dan Sekolah Undang-undang sekitar Kuala Lumpur. Di Seminarseminar ini ahli PWC memberi nasihat berkenaan kaedah-kaedah Pelatihan dalam
Kamar. Institut pengajian tinggi tersebut telah mengalu-alukan PWC supaya kembali
melakukan seminar ini.
•
Selain daripada itu, PWC telah berkerja sama dengan Jawatankuasa Peguam
Muda Kuala Lumpur (JPM) melawat Universiti-universiti dan Sekolah Undang-undang
untuk workshop JPM yang bertema, “Managing Expectations”. Di workshop tersebut
ahli-ahli PWC berpeluang untuk berbincang dan memberi nasihat kepada pelajarpelajar tersebut berkenaan pengalaman mereka sebagai peguam. Workshop ini
juga diterima baik dan kemungkinan besar akan menjadi suatu projek yang tetap di
Universiti-universiti dan Sekolah Undang-undang.
•
Bulan Disember 2007 lalu, PWC telah menganjurkan Forum untuk pelatih-pelatih
dalam kamar, berkenaan dengan program Etika baru di Majlis Peguam. Rasa
kurang puas hati sentiasa disuarakan tentang tahap kegagalan yang kian gawat.
Ramai pelatih mengadu tentang ahli-ahli pemeriksa yang lambat memulangkan
kertas-kertas jawapan sehinggakan kadang-kadang menyebabkan kelambatan
“Long Call” pelatih tersebut.
Di Forum tersebut, Lim Chee Wee dan Steven Thiru telah memberi ucapan masingmasing dan menjelaskan kepada pelatih-pelatih berkenaan pertukaran dalam program
Etika tersebut, dan tahap yang patut dicapai oleh pelatih-pelatih. Puan Hendon
juga berucap semasa Forum tersebut
3.
Aktiviti Sosial
PWC bersama dengan JPM telah menganjurkan aktiviti malam sosial “Young Professionals
Evening”. Ramai ahli profesional lain dari Badan-badan Profesional seperti Jurutera, Ahli
Farmasi, dan Chartered Secretaries telah hadir, dimana Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan
Dato’ Liow Tiong Lai, hadir pada malam itu.
Malam “Young Professionals Evening” tersebut dianjurkan untuk memberi peluang untuk
ahli-ahli Badan Peguam dan pelatih-pelatih bertemu dengan ahli Profesional lain dan
berinteraksi dengan mereka. Ramai pelatih hadir pada malam itu, dan PWC berharap untuk
menganjur malam sebegitu lagi.
4.
Legal Career Fair
Pada 12.01.2008, PWC menganjurkan Legal Career Fair buat pertama kali. Ia diadakan
di Hotel Legend, Kuala Lumpur, dimana hampir 400 pelawat melawat Career Fair tersebut.
23 Firma Peguam serta 2 Syarikat berkaitan dengan petroleum mengambil bahagian di
Career Fair itu.
Tujuan utama untuk Career Fair ini adalah untuk membantu proses pencarian kerja. Sejauh
mana yang dapat dilihat pada hari tersebut, tujuan tersebut telah tercapai.
Firma-firma peguam yang mengambil bahagian di Career Fair tersebut amat serius dalam
percubaan mereka menarik perhatian pelawat-pelawat ke pondok-pondok mereka, dimana
pondok-pondok telah dihiasi secara inovasi dan cantik. Daripada komen-komen yang
diterima, Career Fair ini nampaknya akan menjadi satu lagi projek utama dalam kalendar
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur.
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5.
Kaji Selidik Elaun Pelatih Dalam Kamar
Isu-isu seperti elaun dan juga keadaan kerja pelatih-pelatih dikaji selidik. Keputusan penyelidikan ini telah dibincangkan semasa mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur,
dan Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur melalui PWC telah mula mencari jalan untuk membaikan lagi program Pelatih dalam Kamar. Sila rujuk kepada penterjemahan Inggeris untuk keputusan beberapa penyelidikan yang dirujuk itu.
AKTIVITI-AKTIVITI LAIN
Selain daripada projek-projek tersebut, sepanjang penggal ini PWC telah melakukan kajian untuk
memperbaiki sistem latihan dalam kamar.
PWC telah cuba mentafsirkan Akta Profesion Undang-undang 1976 samada Bicara “Short Calls”
boleh dibicarakan dihadapan Pendaftar dan bukan dihadapan Hakim. Pihak PWC membuat demikian
kerana prihatin bahawa Hakim-hakim mempuyai banyak kes untuk dibicarakan dan juga berharap
jikalau diandaikan bicara“Short Call” boleh dibicarakan dihadapan Pendaftar, tarikh bicara Short
Call boleh ditetapkan lebih awal lagi. Suatu pendapat telah disediakan oleh PWC untuk pengkajian
Majlis Peguam. Walaubagaimanapun, pendapat keseluruhan Majlis Peguam dan Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur, adalah Akta Profesion Undang-undang 1976 perlu dipinda sebelum saranan ini
boleh digunapakai.
Ahli-ahli PWC juga sentiasa berinteraksi dengan bahagian registry RKKK di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala
Lumpur, untuk memastikan “Short Calls” dan “Long Calls” berjalan dengan lancar. Perhubungan
antara PWC dan pegawai di bahagian RKKK adalah memuaskan dan memberangsangkan. KESIMPULAN
Pihak PWC berharap Firma-firma Guaman di sekitar Kuala Lumpur akan menaikkan elaun yang kini
diberi kepada pelatih-pelatih. Kami prihatin bahawa semakin banyak Firma-firma telah menaikkan
jumlah elaun kepada pelatih-pelatih, dan berharap arah aliran ini akan berterusan. Memandangkan
kos kehidupan kian meningkat, elaun pelatih ini bukan lagi suatu duit saku, tetapi semakin menjadi
sumber pendapatan yang utama.
Saya juga berharap Majlis Peguam akan menubuhkan suatu Jawatankuasa khas untuk mempelihara
hal ehwal pelatih-pelatih, dimana pada hemat saya adalah perlu untuk memastikan sistem latihan
Pelatih dalam Kamar adalah lebih seragam di seluruh Negara.
Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan terima kasih kepada ahli-ahli penasihat
di Panel Penasihat.
Selain itu, saya ingin memuji kesemua ahli Unit Utama yang suka membantu dan amat berkerjasama.
Walaupun ahli-ahli PWC lazimnya amat sibuk dengan pengamalan undang-undang masing-masing,
tetapi mereka banyak melabur masa memberi pendapat, dan/atau menjalankan projek-projek
yang kami ingin lakukan. Saya ucapkan “Terima Kasih” kepada mereka semua.
Input dan komen-komen pelatih-pelatih dalam Unit Perwakilan Pelatih amatlah dihargai
PWC juga ingin mengucapkan ucapan terima kasih kepada Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur
yang sentiasa menyokong projek-projek dan aktiviti PWC.
Akhir sekali, sebagai Pengerusi PWC, saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini juga untuk merekodkan
ribuan terima kasih kepada Cik Mary dan Cik Melissa Dass dari Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Peguam
Kuala Lumpur, untuk usaha mereka yang memastikan kejayaan projek-projek PWC.
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Hal-ehwal Pelatih Dalam Kamar
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JAWATANKUASA SOSIAL, kesenian
dan kebudayaan
Pengerusi
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
Muhendaran Suppiah
Oon Hooi Lin
Melissa Ram
Dinesh Kanavaji
Carmen Teh Poh Luan
Rachael Tan Sung Ling
MAJLIS MAKAN MALAM & TARI-MENARI TAHUNAN
Majlis Makan Malam & Tari-Menari Tahunan pada tahun ini dilangsungkan
dengan penuh meriah bagi memperingati Ulangtahun Badan Peguam
Kuala Lumpur yang Ke-15. Pada tahun ini majlis tahunan tersebut
telah dilangsungkan di Hotel Westin Kuala Lumpur pada 01.12.2007.
Tumpuan telah diberikan oleh jawatankuasa ini untuk memastikan
agar majlis tersebut tidak terlalu formal. Para tetamu telah dihiburkan
dengan persembahan oleh kugiran Slick Material dan KL Bar Idol,
Chryshantini Niles, yang mempersonakan para tetamu dengan dua
buah lagu yang disampaikannya. Comedy Court juga turut menghiburkan
para hadirin dengan lawak jenaka mereka pada menghujung majlis
tersebut. Turut menyerikan majlis tersebut adalah upacara cabutan
bertuah serta sajian hidangan yang menarik oleh pelayan-pelayan
Hotel Westin. Daripada maklumbalas yang diterima, ramai tetamu
merasakan Majlis Tahunan kali ini adalah antara yang terbaik pernah
diadakan.
DERMA DARAH
Kempen menderma darah telah diadakan di Bilik Peguam, Kompleks
Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur pada 20.08.2007 dengan bantuan Pusat
Darah Negara. Sejumlah 44. unit darah telah berjaya dikumpul daripada
penderma-penderma yang budiman.
PENCARIAN HARTA KARUN LEXISNEXIS-KL BAR
Pencarian Harta Karun LexisNexis-KL Bar telah dilangsungkan pada
08.09.2007 bagi tahun yang kedua. Penyertaan oleh pihak awam
amat menggalakkan, namun sambutan di kalangan peguam-peguam
sendiri kurang memuaskan memandangkan hanya sekitar 15 buah
kereta yang mengambil bahagian. Dengan sumbangan yang diberikan
oleh penganjur-penganjur yang bermurah hati, semua peserta di
dalam Kategori Tertutup (yang terdiri daripada peguam-peguam serta
kakitangan LexisNexis) berjaya membawa pulang hadiah masing-masing.
Jawatankuasa ini ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan
ribuan terima kasih kepada pihak pentadbiran dan kakitangan LexisNexis
yang sekali lagi telah menganjurkan acara yang hebat ini. Semua hasil
bersih yang diperolehi daripada acara ini dibahagi sama rata di antara
penganjur-penganjur untuk disalurkan kepada badan-badan kebajikan.
Bahagian Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur sebanyak RM3,000.00 akan
disalurkan ke Rumah Yayasan Sunbeam.
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PENDAKIAN GUNUNG KINABALU
Jawatankuasa ini juga telah menganjurkan pendakian Gunung Kinabalu pada 10.11.2007. Enam
(6) orang ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah mengambil bahagian termasuk pihak penganjur
iaitu Muhendaran, Anand Ponnudurai, Ivan Wong, Christopher Lee, Maria Mohd Haris dan Carolyn
Danker. Para peserta telah menjalani sesi latihan setiap hari Sabtu selama hampir 3 bulan di Bukit
Gasing dan Batu Caves sebagai persiapan untuk pendakian itu. Walaupun tidak semua peserta
berjaya menakluki puncak Low’s Peak, pemandangan indah di sekitar Gunung Kinabalu tetap
menjadikan pendakian tersebut suatu pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan bagi semua yang
mengambil bahagian.
ACARA-ACARA LAIN
•
Jawatankuasa ini telah mengaturkan diskaun istimewa bagi ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala
Lumpur untuk menghadiri sandiwara (play) bertajuk “URMI” di Istana Budaya pada
15.06.2007. Seramai 13 orang ahli telah menghadiri sandiwara tersebut.
•
Satu lawatan ke kawasan perlindungan kunang-kunang di Kuala Selangor juga telah diaturkan
pada 14.07.2007 yang telah disertai oleh 22 orang ahli. Lawatan tersebut adalah amat
bermakna berikutan laporan bahawa koloni kunang-kunang semakin lupus.
•
Perhimpunan Bulanan (Monthly Get-Together) turut disarankan pada permulaan penggal
jawatankuasa ini untuk diadakan pada hari Jumaat yang terakhir pada setiap bulan. Sambutan
yang diberikan pada dua bulan yang pertama adalah amat menggalakkan, namun menjadi
berkurang pada bulan yang ketiga.
•
Satu lawatan ke Rumah Yayasan Sunbeam adalah dirancangkan untuk diadakan pada
penghujung bulan Januari 2008.
PENGHARGAAN
Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk merakamkan penghargaan dan ucapan terima kasih
kepada semua ahli jawatankuasa ini yang telah bertungkus lumus untuk menjayakan semua aktiviti.
Ivan Wong Ee-Vern
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Sosial, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan
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JAWATANKUASA Sukan
1.
Pengerusi
Anand Ponnudurai
AHLI JAWATANKUASA
Ahli-ahli berikut telah dilantik sebagai konvenor-konvenor bagi membantu
dalam organisasi sukan tersebut :i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
Badminton
Kriket Hoki Bola Jaring
Bola Sepak
Squash
Tenis Bola Tampar
2.
SERIES TAHUNAN
2.1
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
A.I. Nathan
Alex De Silva
K. Vijayaraj
Marie-Julie Wan Ullok
Robert Low
Peh Khaik Kew
Yeoh Cho Keong
Dinesh Kanavaji
Sukan Badan Peguam KL/Selangor Yang Ke-7
(Piala Pusingan Lall Singh Muker)
Selepas memenangi Piala yang dianjurkan oleh Badan
Peguam Selangor pada 2006, Sukan Badan Peguam
KL/Selangor Yang Ke-7 telah dianjurkan oleh Badan
Peguam Kuala Lumpur di pelbagai tempat pada 12hb
& 13hb Januari 2007. Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur
telah memenangi permainan pertama dengan
mengalahkan Badan Peguam Selangor dan telah
memenangi Piala Kandiah Chelliah untuk permainan
golf pada 12.01.2007 di IOI Palm Garden Resort.
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah menandingi Badan
Peguam Selangor dalam permainan hoki, snooker,
bola jaring, bola tampar, bola sepak dan badminton
pada 13.01.2007, dimana Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur
telah menjuarai kesemua permainan kecuali bola sepak.
Dengan sedemikian, Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah
memegang semula Piala Pusingan Lall Singh Muker
dengan keputusan markah keseluruhannya 6-1. PERMAINAN
128
SUKAN
DI MENANGI
MARKAH
Golf Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur 358–328
Badminton
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur
3–2
Hoki
Bola Jaring
6–0
Bola Sepak
Badan Peguam Selangor
Snuker
Bola Tampar
17–2
2 -5
3 -1
3 -2
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Penyampaian hadiah diadakan pada majlis makan malam yang diadakan di Kelab
Diraja Selangor pada 13.01.2007 yang dihadiri oleh peserta-peserta.
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur berharap untuk menyandang semula piala pusingan
pada kejohanan ke 8 yang akan dianjurkan oleh Badan Peguam Selangor pada
awal tahun 2008.
2.2
Karnival Sukan Yang Ke -17 – Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur lwn Kelab DiRaja Selangor
(Piala Pusingan Tan Sri Dato’ Harun Hashim)
Karnival Sukan Yang Ke-17 telah dijadualkan di adakan bermula minggu 20.11.2006
dengan beberapa permainan dimainkan dengan bola sepak, bola jaring, kriket
dan hoki pada penghujung yang akan diadakan di Kiara Sports Annexe pada
25.11.2006 yang diikuti dengan jamuan makan malam/penyampaian hadiah. Walau
bagaimanapun, memandangkan keadaan cuaca tidak mengizinkan, kejohanan kali
Ke-17 telah ditunda dan diadakan semula pada 26.05.2007.
Memandangkan Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur hanya pernah memenangi kejohanan
ini sekali pada tahun 1990, saya telah menyeru para konvenor untuk berusaha
memenangi kejohanan ini meskipun menghadapi lawan yang bermain permainanpermainan tersebut selalunya berbanding ahli-ahli Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur.
7 permainan dimainkan pada tahun ini ialah kriket, hoki, bolasepak, tenis, bola jaring,
snuker dan badminton bersama “boat race” yang akan diadakan pada malam
penyampaian hadiah di RSC Kiara. Keputusan sebelum majlis makan malam
adalah 4-3 berpihak kepada Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur dengan Badan Peguam
Kuala Lumpur memenangi tenis, bola jaring, snuker dan badminton sementara
Kelab DiRaja Selangor (“RSC”) memenangi kriket, hoki dan bolasepak. Kami
bernekad untuk memenangi Kemenangan Keseluruhan pada kejohanan ke-17.
Walau bagaimanapun, Pengerusi Sukan RSC berpendapat memandangkan setiap
permainan mempunyai piala tersendiri termasuk “boat race”, ia adalah wajar “boat
race” dikira sekali dalam keputusan keseluruhan. Beliau berpendapat bahawa
jika RSC memenangi “boat race” sekali gus menyamakan keputusan kejohanan.
Berikutan itu RSC akan menyandang kembali Piala pusingan kejohanan sebagai
Juara bersandang.
Walaupun kita kerap kalah kepada RSC dalam “boat race’, saya terpaksa mengikut
permintaan mereka. Kami seterusnya mengumpul 4 ahli lelaki dan seorang ahli
perempuan dan seterusnya mengalahkan RSC untuk memenangi kejohanan
keseluruhan. Keputusan permainan individu adalah seperti berikut:
PERMAINAN
DI MENANGI
MARKAH
Kriket
RSC
3 Wicket
Hoki
Bola Sepak
RSC
1–3
RSC
2 -3
Tenis
Bola Jaring
Snuker / Pool
4 -3
21 – 18
4 -3
Badminton
Boat Race
5–0
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Kejohanan ini adalah salah satu agenda penting dalam kalender tahunan RSC dan
mereka telah mengatakan bahawa mereka akan cuba memenangi Kejohanan kali
ke-18 yang akan diadakan bersama pada tahun 2008.
3.
KEJOHANAN BADAN PEGUAM ANTARA NEGERI-NEGERI
Secara tradisi Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur selalunya muncul sebagai Juara Keseluruhan
dalam Pertandingan Kejohanan Badan Peguam antara Negeri-negeri yang diaturkan oleh
Majlis Peguam Malaysia. Walau bagaimanapun, Majlis Peguam Malaysia telah membuat
keputusan untuk tidak mengadakan Kejohanan Badan Peguam antara Negeri-negeri dan
telah mengantikannya dengan Kejohanan 4-Penjuru dimana Badan-badan Peguam Negeri
akan dibahagikan kepada 4 kumpulan dan pelbagai permainan akan diadakan.
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah diberi mandate untuk menganjurkan Kejohanan 4-penjuru
yang pertama dan kami telah bersetuju untuk menganjurkannya pada awal tahun 2008.
4.
HOKI
Badan Peguam Kuala Lumpur telah dijemput untuk menyertai Pertandingan Hoki 7-sebelah
Antarabangsa yang diadakan di Kuala Lumpur pada bulan Julai 2007. Walaupun hanya
menurunkan satu pasukan yang mengandungi peguam-peguam yang veteran, Badan Peguam
Kuala Lumpur telah bermain dengan cemerlang dan muncul juara dalam kategori Bowl.
5.
AM
Satu gelanggang bola tampar di Kompleks Sukan Bangsar telah ditempah pada setiap
hari Ahad kedua dan terakhir setiap bulan jam 5.00 hingga 7.00 petang. Begitu juga, satu
gelanggang badminton di Dewan SBA di Kampung Attap telah ditempah pada setiap hari
Khamis dari jam 6.00 hingga 8.30 malam. Penempahan ini adalah untuk memberi peluang
supaya ahli-ahli dan pelatih-pelatih tetap bermain sukan-sukan tersebut sambil berinteraksi.
Terdapat penyertaan aktif oleh ahli-ahli dan pelatih-pelatih di dalam sesi-sesi ini.
6.
UCAPAN TERIMA KASIH
Saya dengan ini ingin berterima kasih kepada semua konvenor-konvenor untuk masa dan
usaha mereka dalam mengendalikan permainan-permainan tersebut. Jawatankuasa juga
berterima kasih kepada penderma-penderma atas sumbangan-sumbangan hadiah, pialapiala dan berbagai penajaan dalam tahun-tahun terdahulu untuk menjayakan pelbagai
aktiviti sukan. Akhir sekali, jawatankuasa berterima kasih kepada semua ahli-ahli yang
mengambil bahagian dan memberi sokogan dalam pelbagai aktiviti dalam Jawatankuasa
Sukan dalam beberapa tahun ini. Walaupun penglibatan ahli-ahli telah bertambah dan
secara umumnya amat menggalakkan, adalah diharapkan lebih ramai ahli terutama peguam–
peguam muda akan mengambil bahagian dalam aktiviti-aktiviti dalam tahun-tahun yang
akan datang.
Anand Ponnudurai
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Sukan
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JAWATANKUASA PEGUAM MUDA
Pengerusi
Naib Pengerusi
Lee Shih
Ketua Sub-unit
Lai Chee Hoe
Vincent Tey
Janet Chai
Sunil Lopez
Chris Soon
Dinesh Nair
R Ragunanthanan
Wakil Badan Peguam Kuala
Lumpur ke NYLC
Seira Abu Bakar
Jenny Pong Yen Nee
Francesca Phillip
Cynthia Chan Huey Ming
Marie Soong Mei Yee
Madelene Tan
Sheryl Tan
Benjamin Sathyanandam
Zainurazira Zainal
Sarah Kambali
Sandesh Kabir Singh
Tan Pei Lyn
Patricia Woo
Patrick Lim Tow Chai
Elaine Yap
Ng Su-San
Athena Ang
Farez Jinnah
Foo Yueh Jiin
Noreen Ariff
R. Mogana Das
Nur Hidayah
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Tempoh ini memberi kesan suatu peristiwa penting bagi para peguam
muda Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur. Buar kali pertama sejak
penubuhannya dalam tahun 1995, jawatankuasa ini (“YLC”) menjadi
sebuah jawatankuasa yang matang sepenuhnya dalam kalangan
Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur dan tidak lagi dianggap sebagai
ahli undangan. Pemansuhan cabang pertama seksyen 46A, Akta Profesion
Undang-Undang sekarang telah menyebabkan para peguam di bawah
7 tahun yang menjalani amalan boleh mencabar pilihan raya Majlis
Peguam dan Jawatankuasa Peguam Negeri buat kali pertama dalam
hampir 29 tahun. Ini sesungguhnya merupakan suatu pencapaian
yang gemilang dan suatu undi konfiden dalam keupayaan para peguam
muda. Kepujian dan penghargaan yang mendalam semestinya diberikan
kepada para pemegang jawatan terdahulu yang berusaha keras untuk
merayu semula cabang pertama seksyen 46A.
Tempoh ini, YLC disusun kepada 4 unit kecil yang dicipta untuk
memastikan agar segala keperluan para peguam muda dijaga. Unit
kecil tersebut adalah seperti yang berikut:
(a)
Unit Projek Kemasyarakatan – sebuah unit kecil yang
dirancang untuk mengkaji projek penggerak
kemasyarakatan dan kebajikan;
(b)
Unit Hubungan Luar – sebuah unit kecil yang dirancang
untuk mengadakan dan menggalakkan hubungan
kerja yang rapat dengan badan-badan dan organisasi
profesional, universiti-universiti sama ada dalam negeri
atau antarabangsa;
(c)
Unit Hak Asasi dan Perjuangan undang-undang–sebuah
unit kecil yang dirancang untuk mengkaji hak-hak
asasi dan isu-isu kebebasan sivil di Kuala Lumpur dan
untuk bertindak selaku “watchdog”; dan
(d)
Unit Pengurusan Amalan – sebuah unit kecil yang
dirancang untuk mengkaji isu-isu amalan yang melibatkan
para peguam muda dan untuk memastikan agar peguam
ini boleh/dapat dilengkapi untuk menghadapi tuntutan
profesion guaman.
Di pentas ini dan sebelum saya melaporkan berkenaan beberapa aktiviti
yang dijalankan oleh YLC, saya merasakan adalah lebih sesuai untuk
saya nyatakan rasa terhutang budi kepada para peguam muda (dan
anggota unit) yang telah bekerja teramat penting dalam memastikan
agar aktiviti-aktiviti YLC telah disempurnakan dengan sangat jayanya.
Keghairahan dan dedikasi mereka tidak mengenal sempadan dan
PEGUAM MUDA
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Ruth Maran
Tracy Hah
Joshua Kevin
Richard Wee T S
James Ding Tse Wen
Alan Teoh
Tiffany Heah
Edmund Bon
Tay Choon Howe
Alicia Tan May Sien
Jonathan Lim
Joshinae Wong
Chong Wai Kuan
Chian Huey
Choo Dee Wei
Tan Siok Keng
Yip Huen Weng
See Xien
Mohd Razlan
merupakan suatu bukti bahawa masa hadapan Badan Peguam pada
amnya adalah sememangnya teramat positif.
Individu-individu yang berikut: Janet Chai, Vincent Tey, Lai Chee Hoe
dan Sunil Lopez melaksanakan tugas dan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai
pengerusi unit kecil bersungguh-sungguh. Saya juga mengucapkan
terima kasih kepada Benjamin Sathyanandam dan Fareez Jinnah
kerana menerbitkan video promosi yang hebat mengenai aktiviti YLC,
dan Seira Abu Bakar kerana menjadi wakil hubungan YLC kepada
Jawatankuasa Peguam Muda Kebangsaan. Juga kepada timbalan
saya yang dipercayai dan yang boleh diharapkan, Lee Shih, yang begitu
penting sekali dalam memastikan bahawa, walaupun kalendar yang
penuh sesak, YLC mampu menjalankan aktiviti-aktivitinya dalam tatacara
yang tersusun dan dinamik untuk kepentingan ahli-ahli muda Badan
Peguam Kuala Lumpur. Usaha beliau yang independen dan sifat tidak
mudah letih dalam tahun ini telahpun memastikan kerja saya lebih senang. Saya juga ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa
Peguam Kuala Lumpur dan Pengerusi yang pada dasarnya, banyak
menolong aktiviti yang dilaksanakan oleh YLC dan sesungguhnya Cik
Melissa Dass, Pegawai Eksekutif yang bertanggungjawab ke atas YLC terhadap kerja-kerja belakang tabir tanpa mengenal lelah.
AKTIVITI-AKTIVITI
1. “Hari Terbuka” di Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur yang
baru pada 17.04.2007
Unit Pengurusan Amalan YLC yang menganjurkan ‘Hari Terbuka’
tak rasmi untuk, sebahagian besarnya ahli-ahli barunya di
Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur baru di Jalan Duta.
‘Hari Terbuka’ dihadiri oleh lebih kurang 150 orang ahli dan
pelatih dalam kamar. Turut hadir adalah Presiden dan Bendahari Majlis Peguam Malaysia dan matlamat ‘Hari Terbuka’
ini adalah untuk membenarkan ahli-ahli dan pelatih dalam
kamar membiasakan diri mereka dengan susun atur Kompleks
Mahkamah yang baru dan kawasan persekitarannya.
2.
Pemerhatian R Subashini lwn. T Saravanan di Mahkamah
Persekutuan, di Putrajaya pada 14.05.2007
Kes yang tersebut di atas adalah satu mengenai kepentingan
awam yang utama dan berkenaan kepentingan perlembagaan.
Maka, Unit Hak Asasi memutuskan untuk menganjurkan satu
lawatan ke Palace of Justice untuk menyaksikan pemakaian
kebenaran untuk merayu pada 14.05.2007 di Mahkamah
Persekutuan, Putrajaya. Sejumlah 6 orang peguam muda
menghadiri perbicaraan mendengar pada hari tersebut. Tujuan
pemerhatian adalah untuk mewujudkan kesedaran di
kalangan para peguam muda mengenai perkara-perkara
berkenaan kepentingan perlembagaan.
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3.
Ceramah mengenai “Global Legal Opportunities” pada 16.05.2007
Unit Pengurusan Amalan menganjurkan sebuah ceramah mengenai “Global Legal Opportunities” oleh
Penny Carey, seorang Dekan dengan University of Hertfordshire. Lebih kurang 68 orang
peguam yang menghadiri Ceramah itu yang bertujuan untuk mewujudkan kesedaran ke
atas trend undang-undang global dan masa depan profesion undang-undang. Sememangnya
tajuk tersebut tersangat relevan, kerana ia membincangkan sebuah tajuk hangat yang
menjelaskan amalan guaman iaitu pelonggaran khidmat guaman Malaysia dalam menghadapi
globalisasi.
4.
Acara Bersosial/Bergaul dengan ahli-ahli badan profesional yang lain - 25.05.2007
Unit Perhubungan Luar menganjurkan suatu perjumpaan tak rasmi dengan ahli-ahli beberapa
bidang yang lain iaitu ahli farmasi, jurutera dan setiausaha syarikat di Souled Out, Desa Sri
Hartamas. Acara ini, walaupun tidak rasmi diadakan juga untuk membincangkan penubuhan
sebuah Perikatan Para Profesional Muda.
5.
KL Bar Idol 2007 dan Charity Nite 2007 (Malam Kebajikan 2007) pada 29.06.2007
Unit Projek Kemasyarakatan menganjurkan acara kebajikan yang berlangsung paling meriah
dalam kalender Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur. Tahun ini sesungguhnya mencatat
sejarah kerana YLC berjaya mengumpul jumlah yang melebihi RM35,000.00 untuk kebajikan.
Acara tersebut juga menunjukkan rekod kehadiran 550 orang dalam Maison. Satu lagi
kebanggaan YLC adalah, buat kali pertama para peguam muda daripada empat negeri:
Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Melaka dan Johor bersama-sama membantu menganjurkan West
Coast Charity Nite di lokasi-lokasi yang tersebut di atas pada hari yang sama. Ia benarbenar suatu acara yang memberi kenangan dan bekerja bersama-sama dengan peguam
muda ini daripada negeri-negeri yang berlainan menjadi wadah menunjukkan kebolehan/
kemampuan peguam muda ini. Acara di KL juga dihadiri oleh ahli-ahli Peguam Muda
Singapura.
Segala hasil daripada malam itu akan disumbangkan/didermakan kepada dua buah
kebajikan yang diambil, Rumah Sri Shenbagavali Asram, sebuah rumah untuk kanakkanak dan orang tua yang kurang bernasib baik, serta Persatuan Dialisis Touch Petaling
Jaya, sebuah pusat hemodialisis yang ditubuhkan untuk mengendalikan bilangan pesakit
menghidap kegagalan ginjal peringkat akhir yang semakin meningkat.
Sorotan pentung Malam Kebajikan tahun ini adalah edisi Ke-2, KL Bar Idol. Tahun ini
memaparkan empat orang peserta akhir wanita: Chryshantini Niles (Shook Lin & Bok),
Suhaizah (Raja Darryl & Loh), Nur Hidayah (Zaid Ibrahim & Co) dan Ruth Garnet Maran
(Skrine) mengambil tempat di pentas dan membuat persembahan di hadapan para penonton
yang menunjukkan penghargaan. Para peserta akhir Idol telah berlatih bersungguh-sungguh
berminggu dengan All-Lawyer Band. YLC terhutang budi kepada peguam-peguam Kuala
Lumpur yang sungguh bermurah hati dan juga kepada peserta-peserta akhir (termasuk 2
“penyanyi undangan” Ng Yoke Mui and Fahri Azzat) yang banyak menjanakan duit untuk
kebajikan. Walaubagaimanapun dan sebab-sebab yang tidak dapat dielakkan, dan pekara
sedemikian memang berlaku, hanya seorang sahaja yang dapat dijadikan pemenang dan
Chryshantini Niles telah dimahkotakan sebagai KL Bar Idol 2007 kerana menjanakan
jumlah wang yang paling banyak untuk kebajikan.
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6.
Lawatan ke Universiti-Universiti dan Kolej Undang-Undang Swasta
Unit Kecil Perhubungan Luar bersama dengan Jawatankuasa Pelatih Dalam Kamar mengunjungi
beberapa buah universiti dan kolej undang-undang swasta tempoh ini:
(a)
Kemayan –ATC pada 08.09.2007;
(b)
Universiti Malaya- 15.09.2007; dan
(c)
Universiti ITM - 22.09.2007
Tujuan lawatan ini adalah untuk mengendalikan jangkaan/harapan penuntut undang-undang
(terutamanya penuntut undang-undang tahun akhir) kerana mereka sedang hampir keluar
ke dunia pengajian dan kepada amalan. Kunjungan tersebut dirancang untuk memberi gagasan/
idea kepada para penuntut undang-undang berkenaan apa yang akan dijangkakan
selepas memperoleh ijazah, harapan majikan, bagaimana untuk memohon untuk
mendapatkan tempat pelatihan dan juga opsyen opsyen kareer yang terbuka kepada
mereka. Lawatan ini juga merupakan satu pendedahan yang bermakna kepada penuntutpenuntut serta ahli ahli YLC kerana ia membolehkan kedua-dua pihak lebih memahami
keperluan masing-masing. Adalah menjadi tugas utama sub-unit ini untuk melawat
lebih banyak universiti dan kolej undang-undang sesi depan. 7.
Projek “Aid Legal Aid”
Projek “Aid Legal Aid” adalah sebuah kempen untuk menggalakkan bantuan guaman
dalam kalangan peguam dalam bulan September. Bulan September dirancang sebagai
bulan “Aid Legal Aid (A.L.A.)”. Objektif projek ini adalah untuk mewujudkan kesedaran tentang
bantuan guaman di kalangan peguam dan untuk memberi publisiti yang benar-benar memerlukan
sukarela untuk membantu pusat bantuan guaman. Projek ini termasuklah pengagihan
lencana Aid Legal Aid dan menampal poster Aid Legal Aid di Mahkamah. Projek ini berakhir
satu bulan dan peguam-peguam digalakkan untuk memakai lencana Aid Legal Aid untuk
tempoh bulan itu sebagai tanda sokongan. Pembahagian khas untuk berbuat demikian
adalah diminta dan diperoleh daripada Mahkamah yang membolehkan peguam-peguam
untuk memakai lencana ini.
Unit Hak Asasi berhadap agar kempen A.L.A, ketika dirancang untuk berlangsung hanya
sebulan akan mengumpul lebih minat dengan para peguam seumpamanya. Unit Hak Asasi
akan bekerja dengan Pusat Bantuan Guaman Kuala Lumpur untuk memeriksa dengan
teliti cara-cara lain memastikan penglibatan peguam yang lebih baik dalam perkara bantuan
guaman.
8.
“Walk For Justice” pada 26.09.2007
Unit Hak Asasi banyak terlibat dalam peringkat perancangan dan pelaksanaan acara ini
yang dianjurkan oleh Jawatankuasa Hak Asasi Majlis Peguam. Acara ini membuktikan
penglibatan yang jaya semua peguam yang memberikan komitmen kepada suatu kehakiman
bebas dan tersendiri.
9.
Majlis Berbuka Puasa di Uncle Don, Plaza Damas pada 03.10.2007
Lebih kurang 30 orang peguam dan rakan-rakan, termasuk ahli rakan daripada Badan
Peguam Selangor, datang bersama-sama meraikan acara berbuka puasa dan pada masa
yang sama bertemu dan mengikut perkembangan rakan sekerja dan ahli-ahli Badan Peguam
Kuala Lumpur yang lain. Saudara Amir Mursyidi meneruskan dengan satu bacaan doa
sebagai memulakan acara berbuka puasa dan semua yang hadir diberi layanan dengan
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hidangan lazat briyani bersama ayam kambing, sate dan ketupat. Tidak lupa juga penghilang
dahaga dengan hidangan air sirap bandung, teh tarik dan jus buah-buahan.
Majlis Berbuka Puasa dianjurkan oleh YLC bukan sekadar majlis berbuka puasa sematamata, tetapi, ia memberi peluang untuk semua peguam dan rakan-rakan mereka tidak kira
kepercayaan dan fahaman mereka datang bersama-sama meraikan suatu acara baik dan
pada masa yang sama bertemu rakan-rakan lama dan mengikuti perkembangan mereka
dalam proses terkini yang berlaku di Badan Peguam. Acara itu sendiri adalah suatu peluang baik
sebagai wadah kepada kekuatan kita dan peralihan dan dengan memberi dan berkongsi,
kita boleh meneruskan menjadikan negara ini sebuah tempat yang baik untuk masa
hadapan. 10.
Penubuhan “Young Professionals Alliance (“YPA”)” pada 17.11.2007 @ Si Khiong Star
Mercedes Benz Autohaus
YLC mengetuai penubuhan YPA pada 17.11.2007. YPA dilancarkan secara rasminya oleh
Dato’ Liow Tiong Lai, Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan dan menonjolkan kesatuan banyak
badan-badan profesional. Terutamanya, YPA ditubuhkan dengan terdiri para profesional
daripada kejuruteraan, farmaseutikal, kesetiausahaan syarikat dan profesion guaman.
Juga terdapat para profesional daripada badan-badan lain yang datang untuk memberi
sokongan kepada acara ini iaitu ahli psikologi, juru ukur bahan dan ahli kimia yang telah
menyatakan minat mendalam mereka bagi menyertai YPA.
YPA adalah sebuah badan yang terdiri para profesional muda daripada institusi profesional
yang berlainan di Malaysia. Tujuan utama Alliance adalah mengukuhkan ikatan di kalangan
para profesional, berkongsi pengetahuan di kalangan ahli-ahlinya serta mengumpul sumber
supaya dapat berkhidmat kepada masyarakat seluruhnya. YPA jua merupakan pertubuhan
tidak berasaskan politik, agama dan terbuka kepada semua para profesional.
Adalah dijangkakan bahawa YPA akan memainkan peranan besar dalam pembangunan
para profesional muda di negara ini. YLC terikat dengan YPA kerana ia merupakan platform
yang sempurna untuk memastikan peguam muda ini terus berusaha dan mencemerlangkan
diri mereka dalam persekitaran yang kuat dan bersemangat dan bertenaga dan pada
masa yang sama mengekalkan keunggulan Badan Peguam. Acara ini juga telah mendapat
sokongan Jawatankuasa Pelatih Dalam Kamar.
11.
Siasatan mengenai aduan berkenaan Mahkamah Sesyen di Pusat Imigresen Semenyih
Unit Hak Asasi (“HRU”), bekerja dengan Pusat Bantuan Guaman Kuala Lumpur,
melaksanakan suatu penilaian Mahkamah Sesyen (Bahagian Jenayah) di Kem Penahanan
Imigresen Semenyih berhubung dengan keganasan hak asasi manusia mengenai orangorang yang dituduh dan prosedur di luar ketetapan prosiding. Ahli-ahli HRU suka rela untuk
membantu dengan menghadiri dan memerhatikan prosiding mahkamah di Mahkamah
Sesyen yang tersebut di atas. Pemerhati-pemerhati daripada HRU mencatatkan/
memerhatikan mahkamah dibebani dengan banyak kes. Terlalu banyak kes yang dijadualkan
untuk sebutan untuk sebuah mahkamah menyelesaikannya. Adalah diperhatikan bahawa
hampir kesemua orang yang dituduh adalah tanpa wakil guaman dan mereka pada amnya
dilayani dengan pandangan hina oleh kakitangan kem penahanan dan para
pegawai polis mahkamah. Pihak yang ditahan/dituduh diarahkan untuk mencangkung di
luar mahkamah. Selepas kes mereka diselesaikan, mereka di bawah ke luar Mahkamah
dan tangan mereka ditandakan dengan marker dakwat kekal oleh kakitangan kem/pegawai
polis mahkamah.
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12.
“Walk for Justice Part 2: The Walk is Over, Now its time to talk”
Ini merupakan satu forum yang dianjurkan oleh Unit Hak Asasi Manusia untuk antara lain
membincang keadaan Badan Kehakiman di Malaysia. Forum ini bermula dengan Pengerusi
YLC memberi ulasan ringkas mengenai pendirian Badan Peguam mengenai perakaman
klip video seorang peguam senior. Antara penceramah forum ini ialah Dr. Azmi Sharom, Associate
Professor di University Malaya, Haris Ibrahim, Richard Wee Thiam Seng yang membaca
ringkasan daripada “May Day for Justice” dan Fahri Azzat, yang membaca 2 puisi.
Para hadirin terdiri daripada orang awam dan kumpulan-kumpulan civil society dan setelah
mengiktirafkan keadaan genting badan kehakiman, para hadirin kemudian menyatakan
hasrat mereka supaya langkah-langkah diambil untuk memastikan Badan Kehakiman terus
bebas dan adil kepada semua dan tiada pengaruh luar dikesan. Walaupun Suruhanjaya
DiRaja dialu-alukan, satu Suruhanjaya Bebas untuk Perlantikan Hakim-Hakim amatlah
diperlukan dan akan merupakan satu langkah positif dan kuat oleh kerajaan untuk memastikan
Badan Kehakiman terus bebas dan keyakinan orang awam dikembalikan. 13.
Pemerhatian rali BERSIH pada 10.11.2007
Ahli-ahli Unit Hak Asasi Manusia telah memberi sokongan kepada Jawatankuasa Hak Asasi
Manusia Majlis Peguam dalam rali BERSIH dan telah menjadi pemerhati-pemerhati pada
rali tersebut dan juga memberi khidmat di IPK KL dimana peserta-peserta rali tersebut
ditahan. YLC berharap untuk mencapai lebih lagi sessi hadapan. Berberapa projek telahpun dimulakan
dan sedang giat dirancang. YLC berharap untuk menjadi satu jawatankuasa yang penuh
dalam menjaga kepentingan bukan sahaja peguam muda tetapi kesemua peguam amnya.
Saya juga ingin merekodkan rasa terima kasih kepada Jawatankuasa Peguam Muda
Kebangsaan dan juga pengerusinya untuk semua sokongan-sokongan serat nasihat semasa
perlaksanaan aktiviti-aktiviti kami. Saya sesungguhnya yakin bahawa dengan satu YLC yang kuat, masa hadapan Badan Peguam
Kuala Lumpur begitu cerah dan positif. Saya berharap lebih ramai peguam tampil ke
hadapan dengan objektif berkhidmat untuk Badan Peguam dan menyokong jawatankuasajawatankuasa yang sedia ada dan dalam itu memastikan objektif-objektif Badan Peguam
terus dicapai.
Pengerusi
Jawtankuasa Peguam Muda
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PUSAT Bantuan Guaman MAJLIS
PEguam (Kuala Lumpur)
Ahli Panel
Pengerusi
Ravi Nekoo
Setiausaha Kehormat Alexis Diana
Pembantu Setiausaha
Kehormat Latheefa Koya
Bendahari
Harleen Kaur
Ahli-Ahli
K M Nachammai
Nik Nurul Atiqah Nik Yusof
Ellysyeliza Mat Desa
N Sivanesan
Ramesh Lachmanan
M Moganambal
Selva Rani Thiyagarajah
Magesan R Ayavoo
Nicholas Netto
R. Ragunanthanan
Sivarasa Rasiah
Saravana Kumar
Puspawati Rosman
Abd Shukor Tokachil
Ravinder Singh Dhaliwal
Preetam Kaur
So Chien Hao
PENGENALAN
Tahun 2007 adalah tahun yang amat sibuk bagi Pusat Bantuan Guaman
(Kuala Lumpur).Telah berlaku peristiwa-peristiwa baru yang mengakibatkan
permintaan yang tidak putus-putus untuk bantuan kami. Secara ringkasnya
Pusat ini telah menjadi satu pusat yang sibuk dengan pelbagai aktiviti.
Kami telah berusaha untuk menangani pelbagai cabaran dengan sebaik
mungkin dengan sumber yang terhad. Kini adalah masa untuk menilai
kerja-kerja kami yang masih dalam proses.
Sepanjang tahun ini, Pusat ini telah membantu 15,951 anakguam
dengan nasihat guaman, perwakilan dan pencelahan guaman melalui
pelbagai programnya yang berterusan. Ini adalah peningkatan sebanyak
50% berbanding tahun lalu di mana kami telah membantu 10,062
anakguam. (Sila rujuk statistik untuk program yang dilampirkan).
Mereka yang dibantu termasuk 1,804 anakguam yang datang ke Pusat
ini di bawah Klinik-klinik LAC dan Syariah, 1,679 orang yang telah
ditemuduga di penjara, 4,200 tahanan yang telah dibantu di bawah
Program ‘Dock Brief’ dan ribuan buruh asing di bawah Program LAC/
Tenaganita. BCLAC (KL) juga telah membantu ratusan orang yang lain
melalui Klinik-klinik usahasama dengan NGO seperti AWAM, WAO,
SIS, UNCHR dan PTF.
Sebanyak 399 fail telah dibuka sepanjang tahun ini yang mana 288
telah di tugaskan. Pusat ini juga telah menggalakkan penggunaan
pencelahan guaman untuk menyelesaikan kes secara terus dan efektif.
Hingga ke hari ini sebanyak 32 kes telah direkodkan.
Pusat ini terus mengekalkan hubungan yang rapat dengan rakanrakan kongsi NGOnya seperti All Women’s Action Society (AWAM),
Women’s Aid Organization (WAO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), Tenaganita, Pink
Traingle Foundation (PTF), United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) dan input mereka sangat membantu dalam memberi perspektif
yang berlainan kepada Panel Pengurusan dalam beberapa isu.
Dalam tahun 2007, Pusat ini telah menyaksikan lahirnya satu kumpulan
baru peguam muda yang dikenali sebagai “Legal AIDERS”. “Legal
AIDERS” ialah satu kumpulan peguam yang bertenaga, berbakat dan
bersemangat yang ghairah membantu BCLAC (KL) dalam pelbagai
aktiviti dan programnya (rujuk kepada laporan jawatankuasa Legal
Awareness).
Tahun 2007 juga menyaksikan Kumpulan “Urgent Arrest” kami teramat
sibuk mengendalikan beberapa litigasi kepentingan awam. Tidak seperti
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2006 di mana isu pengusiran menjadi perkara utama litigasi kepentingan awam, dalam 2007
BCLAC (KL) telah membantu pihak-pihak yang telah ditahan kerana terlibat dalam perhimpunan
haram. Peguam-peguam yang telah mendengar tentang penangkapan ini, telah hadir di IPK (KL)
dan Polapol dari tengahari hingga ke petang untuk pendengaran reman. Peguam-peguam juga
telah hadir di Mahkamah Selayang dan Kuala Lumpur untuk membantu anakguam-anakguam.
Pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar juga telah bersama-sama membantu dalam mendapatkan sebanyak
mungkin maklumat daripada anakguam untuk membantu peguam dalam permohonan ikat-jamin.
Amat mengagumkan untuk melihat peguam-peguam ini membantu anakguam. Mereka bertindak
tanpa kepentingan diri sendiri, tidak memberi nama atau memberi reaksi semasa dipuji. Komitmen
mereka patut dijadikan contoh. Kami panjangkan rasa penghargaan tidak terhingga kepada semua
peguam sukarela dan pelatih dalam kamar yang telah menyertai kami dalam membantu anak guam.
Selain daripada program-program perkhidmatannya yang biasa, BCLAC (KL) juga menjalankan dan
terlibat dalam pelbagai program dan aktiviti lain seperti:
Pendidikan – Selain nasihat guaman dan perwakilan, ramai orang telah diberi kesedaran mengenai
undang-undang dan hak mereka melalui program pendidikan dan ‘outreach’ yang telah dijalankan
oleh BCLAC (KL). BCLAC (KL) telah menjalankan lebih daripada 10 program di sekolah-sekolah
dan menganjurkan ceramah-ceramah kepada beberapa komuniti termasuk komuniti-komuniti
yang terpinggir seperti pekerja seks dan transexual yang telah dimaklumkan dan diberi kesedaran
mengenai hak undang-undang mereka. BCLAC (KL) juga melalui rancangan realiti TV3, “Nescafe
Kick Start” dan ASTRO, “Sattam” telah mengiklankan perkhidmatannya dan mendidik orang awam
mengenai bantuan guaman.
Pembinaan Hubungan – Dalam tahun 2007, BCLAC (KL) juga merasakan pentingnya pembinaan
rangkaian dan hubungan dengan kumpulan dan organisasi lain. Tujuan utama pembinaan rangkaian
ialah untuk memberi perkhidmatan yang lebih baik kepada anakguam. Di antara kumpulan yang
telah ditemui dan di adakan perbincangan untuk menambah-baik hubungan kerja adalah Jabatan
Kebajikan Masyarakat, Pihak Berkuasa Penjara, Pegawai Polis Daerah, Biro Bantuan Guaman, Majlis
Aids Malaysia, Palang Merah Antarabangsa, Kumpulan Sokongan Pekerja Myanmar dan Nepalese,
Shelter, PS the Children, Women Centre for Change, dan SUARAM.
Pembaharuan Undang-undang – BCLAC (KL) telah mengambil beberapa langkah untuk penglibatan
dalam inisiatif pembaharuan undang-undang. Pada April 2007 bersama-sama dengan Jawatan
Kuasa Imigresen Majlis Peguam, Pusat ini telah menjadi pemerhati dan pemantau di Mahkamah
Tahanan Semenyih selama lima hari. Pusat ini juga telah menghadiri dan memberi input di persidangan
meja bulat yang dianjurkan oleh SUHAKAM untuk berbincang dengan semua agensi-agensi kerajaan
yang relevan, mengenai isu-isu keadaan dan kesesakan penjara. Perbincangan dan rundingan juga
sedang dijalankan dengan pihak berkuasa penjara dan kebajikan mengenai isu program pemulihan yang
wajar untuk juvana di penjara dan rumah reman. Selain itu, kes-kes yang melibatkan pengusiran
penduduk setinggan telah dicabar di mahkamah, dalam usaha untuk mendesak pembaharuan
dalam bidang ini. Kini, BCLAC (KL) juga sedang dalam proses menderafkan bil bantuan guaman
yang baru untuk negara.
Pelajar Sangkutan – Program sangkutan Pusat ini telah berkembang dari setahun ke setahun.
Pelajar dari intitusi pengajian tinggi awam dan swasta seperti UM, IIUM, Taylor’s dan HELP sering
membuat lawatan dan menjalani program sangkutan bersama BCLAC (KL). Terdapat juga pelajar
dari Monash dan universiti-universiti lain.
Laman Web BCLAC (KL) – Laman Web LAC kini telah didaftarkan dan sedang dalam proses pembinaan
‘web-page’. (www.legalaidkl.org)
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Kami ingin menekankan bahawa apa yang dicapai setakat ini adalah mustahil tanpa adanya sokongan
padu dari ramai peguam sukarela yang berdedikasi dan pelatih dalam kamar. Kami percaya dengan
pertambahan sokongan daripada Majlis Peguam dan ahli-ahli Badan Peguam KL, Pusat ini mampu
mencapai tahap yang lebih tinggi lagi dan memberikan bantuan, mewujudkan dan meningkatkan
kesedaran dan memberikan bantuan guaman kepada mereka yang lebih memerlukan dan kepada
ahli masyarakat yang terpinggir.
Mukasurat-mukasurat seterusnya membentangkan pelbagai laporan daripada pelbagai
jawatankuasa kecil yang menunjukkan pelbagai aktiviti yang telah dijalankan dan dilaksanakan
tahun ini.
Akhir sekali kami mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua
peguam sukarela, rakan kongsi NGO, Ketua Projek, pelatih dalam kamar dan kakitangan, yang
telah memberikan kami sokongan dan bantuan dalam memenuhi objektif kami. Kami berharap
dapat bekerjasama lagi dalam tahun 2008 dan tahun-tahun yang mendatang bagi memenuhi
tangungjawab sosial kami kepada masyarakat. Terima Kasih.
Ravi Nekoo
Pengerusi
B.
STATISTIK 2007
PUSAT BANTUAN GUAMAN MAJLIS PEGUAM (KUALA LUMPUR)
STATISTIK (JANUARI – DISEMBER 2007)
STATISTIK ANAKGUAM : RINGKASAN 2007
Clinic/Programme
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Penjara Sungai Buloh :
* Anakguam warganegara Malaysia
* Anakguam warganegara Asing
Penjara Wanita Kajang
Penjara Wanita Warga Asing Kajang
Penjara Lelaki Kajang
Penjara Lelaki Warga Asing Kajang
Rumah Tahanan Juvana
Dock Brief
Kinik LAC/Syariah
SIS
AWAM
PTF
WOA
Tenaganita
UNHCR
Kes-Kes Kepentingan Awam
TOTAL
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
Anakguam
2005
1294
(876)
(418)
181
153
121
5216
1898
523
571
87
102
998
11144
Anakguam Anakguam Jan2006
Dec 2007
1285
1093
(1010)
(764)
(275)
(329)
200
139
84
88
217
26
77
116
4714
4200
1808
1804
568
673
493
387
82
10
166
173
585
2350
3360
469
10062
15105
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C. LAPORAN JAWATANKUASA
1.
KLINIK PUSAT BANTUAN GUAMAN (LAC)
Laporan disediakan oleh Ketua Projek, Nachammai Kumarappan
Ahli Jawatankuasa:
Nachammai Kumarappan
Alexis Diana Ahmad Ridza Jayaletchumi Rajaretnam
Pengenalan Molly Gomez-Kerisnan Kalaiichelvii
Ramesh Lachmanan
Klinik Bantuan Guaman (“LAC Clinic”) telah mula beroperasi sejak 1983 di sekretariat bagi memberikan
perkhidmatan kepada orang awam yang datang ke Klinik Pusat Bantuan Guaman. Klinik ini juga
menyediakan khidmat nasihat guaman percuma kepada mereka yang layak berdasarkan Ujian
Kelayakan, kesedaran undang-undang, perwakilan undang-undang dan campurtangan undangundang. Klinik ini diselia dan diurus oleh sekumpulan peguam sukarela di bawah Jawatankuasa
Klinik Pusat Bantuan Guaman. Jawatankuasa ini telah mengadakan perjumpaan sebanyak 4 kali
dan menyelesaikan beberapa masalah pentadbiran yang dihadapi oleh Klinik ini. Klinik ini beroperasi dari
Isnin hingga Jumaat bertempat di Pusat Bantuan Guaman (KL) dari 10 pagi hingga 4.30 petang.
Perbandingan Jumlah klien berjalan-masuk LAC di antara tahun 2006 dan 2007 adalah seperti
berikut:BIL
1
2
TAHUN
2006
2007
BILANGAN KLIEN
1586 (hinggat 8/12/06)
1580 (hingga 6/12/07)
Perbandingan klien (yang telah diberikan perwakilan undang-undang) di antara tahun 2006 & 2007
adalah seperti berikut :-BIL
1
2
TAHUN
2006
2007
BILANGAN KLIEN
244 (hingga 8/12/06)
326 (hingga 6/12/07)
Campurtangan Undang-Undang (Legal Intervention)
Tahun ini menyaksikan penurunan kes-kes berkenaan campurtangan undang-undang di mana para
pelatih dalam kamar telah pergi ke balai polis.
Satu perbandingan mengenai campurtangan undang-undang yang diberikan di antara tahun 2006
dan 2007 adalah seperti berikut :
BIL TAHUN TOTAL NUMBERS JUMLAH PELATIH DALAM KAWASAN / JABATAN YANG DILAWATI
KAMAR YANG TERLIBAT
1. 2006
51 kes
80 pelatih
Polis, MPJ, Jabatan Buruh, Asrama
Sentul, JKM, Jabatan Perhubungan
Industri, Majistret/Sesyen/Trafik/
Mahkamah Wisma Denmark, Bankbank, Tanah Selangor, Amanah Raya.
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2.
2007
32 kes
60 pelatih
Polis, JPN, HUKM,Jabatan Buruh,
Mahkamah Majistret Jawatankuasa / Peguam sukarela / Pelatih dalam kamar
Tiada penambahan kepada bilangan peguam-peguam sukarela untuk menyelia pelatih-pelatih
dalam kamar dan juga mengambil kes-kes terutamanya jenayah. Oleh yang demikian, kami merayu
kepada peguam-peguam untuk tampil dan menawarkan diri sebagai sukarelawan.
Kami ingin merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar, kakitangan
dan sebilangan pegual-peguam sukarela yang telah membantu menangani masalah kekurangan ini.
Latihan Pelatih-Pelatih Dalam Kamar
Kesemua ahli jawatankuasa telah mengambil bahagian secara aktif dalam program latihan dengan bantuan pegawai LAC secara secara bergilir di mana dua ahli jawatan kuasa memantau latihan pada setiap satu masa.
Kami terhutang budi kepada peguam-peguam sukarela (yang bukan ahli jawatankuasa) seperti En.
D M Rao, En. Muhendaran, Dato’ Manpal Singh dan En. Rabinder Singh yang telah dengan murah hati
meluangkan masa mereka yang berharga untuk klinik ini dan hadir melatih para pelatih dalam kamar. Pembinaan Perhubungan
Pusat Bantuan Guaman berjaya menjalinkan perhubungan dengan pelbagai agensi Kerajaan.
1.
Bermesyuarat dengan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (KL) – 18hb Mei 2007
- Perjumpaan ini berjaya dengan rujukan-rujukan yang dibuat bersama Jabatan-jabatan
Kebajikan Masyarakat 2.
Bermesyuarat dengan Biro Bantuan Guaman – 8hb Mei 2007
- Mesyuarat ini dihadiri oleh pegawai-pegawai daripada BBG dan perhubungan telah dijalinkan
terutamanya berkenaan kllinik “Outreach” .
3.
Nescafe Kickstart oleh Derek Chong di TV3
- Klinik LAC juga telah mengambil bahagian dalam rancangan realiti ini di mana Derek
Chong mengambil bahagian dan meletakkan “Klinik Undang-Undang Bergerak” sebagai kerja
idealnya. Sepanjang tempoh ini, LACKL telah berulangkali dipaparkan dalam televisyen
kebangsaan. Nachammai, Sa’adiah, Ravi Nekoo, Amer Hamzah, Edward Saw dan Edmund
Bon juga telah terlibat di dalam program ini. 4.
Bermesyuarat dengan pihak Polis - Ia amat berjaya dengan mesyuarat diadakan dengan IPD Sentul dan IPD Cheras
Klinik Luar “Outreach”
Jawatankuasa bagi tahun 2007 memutuskan untuk tidak mengadakan apa-apa klinik ‘outreach’
untuk orang ramai memandangkan kami ditenggelami dengan Program Sekolah. A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
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Di bawah ialah laporan untuk program tersebut :
LAPORAN PROJEK SEKOLAH KLINIK LAC
Disediakan oleh: Kalaiichelvii & Chitrah Program Sekolah Klinik Pusat Bantuan Guaman (Program Sekolah Klinik LAC) telah memberikan
kesedaran undang-undang dan juga sosial kepada pelajar-pelajar sekolah melalui seminar bertajuk
“Ceramah Perundangan & Implikasi Sosial Terhadap Murid-Murid Sekolah Menengah” semenjak 5
tahun yang lampau. Pada tahun 2007, jawatankuasa telah sekali lagi menerima satu surat menyeluruh
daripada Kementerian Pelajaran dengan terma-terma dinyatakan di dalamnya.
Pada permulaannya, apabila projek ini dimulakan kami mendapatkan peguam-peguam untuk
menyampaikan syarahan berkaitan undang-undang Keluarga, undang-undang Pekerjaan, Keganasan
Rumahtangga dan Undang-undang Jenayah. Namun, para guru telah meminta jawatankuasa
penganjur pada ketika itu untuk melakukan perubahan dan menjadikan program itu berbentuk
ikut-serta dengan isu-isu sosial yang menarik. Maka, kami memajukan program tersebut dengan
bekerjasama dengan Kamar Peguam Negara, Polis Diraja Malaysia, peguam, personaliti sukan,
bekas pelajar sekolah-sekolah terbabit mengenai Perkongsian Kehidupan Sebenar, kesedaran
mengenai HIV/AIDS, Perhubungan, Jantina & Seks serta isu-isu lain yang melibatkan para pelajar.
Kami juga mengadakan sesi permainan dan soal jawab dengan para pelajar disertai dengan pemberian
cenderahati kepada para pelajar yang mengambil bahagian secara aktif.
Program perintis ini telah disambut baik oleh pengetua-pengetua sekolah, guru-guru kaunseling
dan para pelajar. Seterusnya, permintaan terhadap program tersebut meningkat dengan guru-guru
membincangkan program ini di dalam perjumpaan antara guru-guru kaunseling. Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa
juga telah membuat lawatan peribadi ke sekolah-sekolah untuk mendapatkan kepercayaan guruguru kaunseling dan pengetua-pengetua sekolah. Sejak dua tahun kebelakangan ini, program ini
telah mendapat sambutan hangat namun kami kekurangan jurulatih untuk memenuhi permintaan
semasa. Program baru ini telah disambut baik oleh para pelajar dan juga pihak sekolah kerana ia
merangkumi kedua-dua aspek undang-undang dan sosial. Pada tahun 2007, kami telah berjaya
menembusi sekolah-sekolah baru seperti SMK Maxwell, Jalan Sultan Ismail, SMK Convent, Sentul,
SMK Methodist Sentul dan SMK Seri Mutiara, Cheras.
Pada tahun ini, sebanyak 10 sesi telah berjaya diadakan (SMK Methodist Sentul- 3 sesi, SMK Maxwell
- 2 sesi, SMK Seri Mutiara- 2 sesi, SMK La-Salle- 1 sesi, SMK Taman Connought- 1 sesi, SMK Convent
- 1 sesi). Projek ini juga mendapat sokongan berkualiti daripada Jabatan Peguam Negara (Putrajaya)
yang telah menamakan beberapa orang DPP untuk memberikan ceramah di sekolah-sekolah berkenaan,
Polis Diraja Malaysia iaitu IPD Sentul dan IPD Cheras juga telah menjanjikan sokongan. Galakan ini
juga dikekalkan dengan penglibatan bekas-bekas pelajar sekolah-sekolah berkenaan yang pada
masa kini berjaya dalam kehidupan mereka.
Personaliti-personaliti sukan juga telah menyokong program kami dan berkongsi displin diri dan
keazaman mereka yang menjadikan mereka popular. Jawatankuasa juga mengekalkan hubungan
yang erat dengan PT Foundation di mana mereka telah menghantar pegawai-pegawai mereka untuk
berkongsi dan mendidik mengenai kesedaran HIV/AIDS dan STI kepada para pelajar.
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Senarai Penceramah yang Terlibat dalam Program Sekolah Tahun 2007
TARIKH
10/4/07, 30/4/07, 14/6/07, 6/8/07, 8/8/07,
11/8/07, 4/9/07, 10/10/07, 22/10/07, 23/10/07
JABATAN PEGUAM PUAN NOORIN BADARUDDIN, PUAN RAJA ROZELA
NEGARA
RAJA TORAN, PUAN ASMAH MUSA, TUAN DEVANANDAN
S SUBRAMANIAM, PUAN NURULHUDA NUR’AINI,
PUAN EVAWANI FARISYTA (beliau telah melakukannya
dua kali)
POLIS
DSP TAN YAN THIAN (IPD SENTUL), ASP GULAM
RASSID KHAN (IPD SENTUL), ASP NASRI (IPD
CHERAS), C/I CHANDERAN SEGARAN (IPD CHERAS),
INSP DEEN JONATHAN (IPD SENTUL)
PEGUAM
KALAIICHELVII, ALEXIS DIANA, NACHAMMAI , JAG
RAMACHANDRAN, WAN AZMIR BIN WAN MAJID,
RAGUNANTHANAN,
BADAN BUKAN HISHAM HUSSEIN, MARHALEM, SHAHRUDDIN,
KERAJAAN
KISHEN, JAMALIAH, ROSLAN, ROSLAN (MAC), WONG
LAI CHENG, MAZNAH IBRAHIM, ABIGAIL DEVRIES
(AWAM, PTF, WAKE, PS THE CHILDREN)
INDIVIDU
AMARJIT KAUR, THOMAS SAMUELS, GANGA DEVI SUKAN
VASANTHA MARIAL ANTHONY, G I YAAMINII, SHEKAR
MARIMUTHU, PAVITHRAN PRATABAN, THOMAS
SAMUELS, JAMALIAH JALALUDDIN
2.
10 HARI
6 DPP
5 PEGAWAI POLIS
6 PEGUAM
10 AHLI
3 AHLI
6 AHLI
KLINIK SYARIAH
Laporan Disediakan oleh Ketua Projek
Ahli Jawatankuasa
Nik Nurul Atiqah Binti Nik Yusof (Ketua Projek)
Sabrina Ali Binti Mohamad Ashfar
Ellysyeliza Binti Mohd Desa
Mohd Hafiizh Mohd @ Ghazali
Matlamat Klinik Syariah ialah untuk memberikan perkhidmatan guaman percuma kepada yang
memerlukan serta memberikan mereka kefahaman yang lebih mengenai prinsip dan prosedur
undang-undang syariah selain membantu mereka mendapatkan bantuan yang sewajarnya dan
memperolehi perbicaraan yang adil di Mahkamah Syariah yang berkenaan.
Klinik ini beroperasi di Sekretariat dan dibuka kepada orang ramai dari hari Isnin hingga Jumaat
dari pukul 10.00 pagi hingga pukul 4.30 petang. Klinik Syariah yang bertempat di sekretariat ini
dikendalikan oleh Pelatih Dalam Kamar sebagai memenuhi khidmat bantuan guaman yang menjadi
sebahagian daripada peraturan Majlis Peguam dalam Khidmat Bantuan Guaman. Setiap Pelatih
ditugaskan sekali seminggu untuk tempoh tiga (3) bulan.
Pelatih dalam kamar diberi latihan selama separuh hari yang memfokuskan kepada undangundang Syariah Sivil, Jenayah dan Prosedur. Mereka juga diberi latihan satu hari dengan Klinik
Bantuan Guaman yang memberikan latihan asas berkenaan teknik temuduga selain mengambil
bahagian dalam perbincangan mengenai undang-undang jenayah, pekerjaan dan yang berkaitan
dengan kekeluargaan.
Klinik Bantuan Guaman berjalan selari dengan Klinik Syariah. Selain daripada menemuduga anakguam
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syariah, pelatih juga membantu menemuduga anakguam sivil. Tugas mereka termasuk menemuduga
klien yang datang sendiri, menjalankan ujian kelayakan dan memberi nasihat yang betul apabila
diperlukan setelah penjelasan diperolehi dari peguam sukarela dan/tau pengamal undang-undang
syariah. Sesungguhnya kami percaya bahawa perkhidmatan ini perlu diberikan kepada sesiapa
yang lulus ujian kelayakan disamping menjaga kepentingan mereka di dalam Mahkamah Syariah.
Walaupun bilangan orang awam yang meminta khidmat dan nasihat kami masih kecil berbanding
dengan klinik bantuan guaman lain tetapi jumlahnya semakin meningkat dan tidak terhad kepada
golongan wanita sahaja malahan Klinik Syariah dikunjungi juga oleh kaum lelaki yang datang untuk
mendapatkan nasihat dan perwakilan guaman di dalam beberapa perkara berkaitan dengan
prosedur perceraian termasuk permohonan fasakh yang difailkan oleh isteri mereka, hak-hak selepas
perkahwinan seperti penjagaan, hadhanah dan permohonan matrimony, hal-hal berkaitan pusaka
dan prosiding perlaksanaan.
Selaras dengan Minggu Kesedaran Undang-Undang yang bertemakan “Hak Generasi Baru”,
Jawatankuasa telah menganjurkan satu program akar umbi bertempat di Taman Tasik Titiwangsa,
Kuala Lumpur pada 2hb September 2007 yang dinamakan ‘Riadah dan Didik’ yang mana aktiviti
utamanya adalah mengedarkan risalah dan makalah undang-undang (yang termasuk pengenalan
kepada Pusat Bantuan Guaman Majlis Peguam Kuala Lumpur) yang mana kami telah berjaya
mendekati kumpulan sasaran utama kami iaitu “Mat & Minah Rempit”.
Harapan kami untuk tahun-tahun mendatang ialah agar kami dapat mengendalikan lebih banyak
program kesedaran dalam mendidik masyarakat mengenai hak mereka di bawah undang-undang
dan prinsip-prinsip syariah dan untuk memperkenalkan khidmat yang ditawarkan klinik kepada
mereka yang memerlukan.
Kami juga ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada pihak Panel Pengurusan, kakitangan Pusat
Bantuan Guaman, ahli Jawatankuasa Syariah, peguam sukarela dan pengamal undang-undang
syariah, Pelatih Dalam Kamar untuk minat, penglibatan dan sokongan yang tak putus dalam menjalankan
Klinik Syariah dengan lancar.
3.
PROGRAM DOCK BRIEF
Laporan Disediakan oleh Jawatankuasa Dock Brief
Ahli Jawatankuasa
Selva Rani Thiyagarajan (Ketua Projek)
Ragunanthanan. R (Setiausaha)
Wan Hidayati Nadirah Wan Ahmad Nasir
Vivian Victor Magesan (Penolong Ketua Projek)
Henry Ngok Heng Hui
Nicholas Netto
Shirdieswaran Thangarajah
Pengenalan
Program Dock Brief ini mengandungi beberapa kumpulan merangkumi 70 orang pelatih dalam
kamar secara bergilir yang dikehendaki untuk memberikan khidmat guaman seperti peringanan
hukuman, permohonan ikat-jamin dan perkara-perkara berkaitan reman secara percuma. Setakat
ini khidmat kami meliputi 7 Mahkamah Majistret Jenayah, satu Mahkamah Kanak-Kanak dan
Mahkamah Majistret 10.
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Jawatankuasa Dock Brief telah menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti seperti: -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Latihan praktikal untuk kemasukan baru pelatih-pelatih ‘Dock Brief’ yang dijalankan pada
hari Sabtu
Memperbaiki panduan latihan
Satu sessi dialog yang berjaya dengan Badan Kehakiman
Kumpulan-kumpulan Dock Brief diangkat oleh ahli jawatankuasa untuk tujuan penyeliaan
Penyediaan risalah bagi penyebarkan maklumat mengenai khidmat Program Dock Brief
Menjemput peguam-peguam kanan untuk mendidik pelatih dalam kamar semasa latihan
Penyeliaan secara ‘ad-hoc’ oleh ahli-ahli jawatankuasa
Cadangan
-
-
Mendapatkan lebih ramai peguam sukarela
Memelihara hubungan baik dengan Badan Kehakiman
4.
KLINIK PENJARA SG BULOH, PENJARA WANITA DAN WARGA ASING KAJANG, PENJARA
JUVANA KAJANG DAN RUMAH TAHANAN JUVANA
Laporan Disediakan oleh Ketua Projek
Ahli Jawatankuasa
Sivanesan Nadarajah (Ketua Projek)
Moganambal Samynathan Bernard Francis
Nurshafini Musthafa Ramesh Lachmanan (Penolong Ketua Projek)
Kamalam
Letchemanan
G Nanda Goban
Daniel Abhisheegam
Pengenalan
Klinik ini telah menjalankan Klinik Penjara Sg. Buloh (“SBP”) sejak bulan Disember 1997, Penjara
Pendatang Asing Sg. Buloh (“SBMP”) sejak bulan Mei 2004, Penjara Wanita Kajang (“KWP”) sejak
pertengahan tahun 2000, Penjara Pendatang Asing Wanita (“KWMP”) sejak bulan September
2003, Program Rumah Tahanan Juvana (“JRH”) sejak tahun 2001 dan juga Penjara Juvana Kajang
(“KJP”) sejak tahun 2007. Pada awal bulan Mac tahun 2005, keenam-enam Klinik Penjara iaitu
SBP, SBMP, KWP, KWMP, KJP dan JRH telah digabungkan di bawah satu program. Pusat
Bantuan Guaman juga telah bekerjasama dengan Pusat Bantuan Guaman Selangor (“Selangor
LAC”) dengan mengambil pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar daripada Pusat Bantuan Guaman Selangor
bagi menyertai Klinik Penjara Sg. Buloh sejak bulan Jun 2005.
Ringkasan Program
Program ini dijalankan setiap 3 bulan dan melibatkan lebih kurang 27 orang pelatih dalam kamar
dari Kuala Lumpur dan 6 hingga 10 orang pelatih dalam kamar dari Pusat Bantuan Guaman
Selangor, dihimpunkan kepada beberapa pasukan yang diketuai oleh satu atau dua orang
peguam pemantau yang melawat penjara-penjara tersebut dan juga JRH setiap sepuluh hari sekali
untuk menemubual mereka yang ditahan reman. Pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar di dalam Program
ini, yang telah dilatih dan dilengkapkan sewajarnya, juga mengambil tindakan lanjutan di Pusat
Bantuan Guaman seperti berikut :(a)
menghubungi ahli keluarga mengenai perkara-perkara yang berkaitan dengan ikat-jamin dan
perwakilan guaman;
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(b)
merujuk kes-kes yang relevan kepada Program “Dock Brief”, Pusat-pusat Bantuan Guaman
negeri masing-masing atau untuk kesalahan berat, kepada skima “Court Assigned Counsel”; dan,
(c)
berhubung dengan peguam-peguam sukarela tentang status fail-fail;
(d)
berhubung dengan Kedutaan masing-masing berkaitan warga asing yang ditahan reman di
dalam penjara-penjara;
(e)
merujuk kes yang berkaitan tahanan dari negeri-negeri lain kepada Pusat Bantuan Guaman
Majlis Peguam di negeri masing-masing untuk tindakan mereka.
Statistik mengenai perkara-perkara yang dikendalikan/diproses oleh Program ini dilampirkan di
bahagian B (Statistik 2007).
AktivitI-aktiviti
Berikut merupakan aktiviti-aktiviti utama yang dilaksanakan sepanjang tahun semakan:
(a)
satu mesyuarat telah diadakan pada 23-05-2007 di antara ahli Jawatankuasa Penjara dan
Pengarah Penjara Kajang berserta pegawai-pegawainya bagi membincangkan
beberapa perkara berkaitan dengan kelancaran perjalanan Program dengan kerjasama
pihak berkuasa Penjara. Yang menjadi perhatian khusus ialah mengenai jumlah besar
juvana yang ditahan reman di Penjara Kajang dan usaha-usaha yang diperlukan bagi
menanangi masalah tersebut;
(b)
dalam usaha yang berterusan untuk mengukuhkan hubungan dengan pelbagai pihak
berkuasa berkenaan, satu majlis makan malam bersama telah diadakan dibawah kelolaan
Jawatankuasa Program Penjara, pada 25-07-2007 di Lake Club Kuala Lumpur di antara
BCLAC (KL) dan pegawai-pegawai dari Penjara Sg. Buloh, Penjara Kajang, Penjara Wanita
Kajang, Asrama Sentosa, Sek Tunas Bakti Rumah Reman Sg. Besi dan juga Jabatan Kebajikan
Masyarakat;
(c)
semasa Minggu Kesedaran Undang-undang yang telah berlangsung di antara 1 hingga 9
September 2007, Jawatankuasa telah menganjurkan satu sesi dengan 23 juvana di Asrama
Sentosa Sentul.
Aktiviti utama Jawatankuasa ialah untuk memastikan adanya peguam-peguam sukarela yang
mencukupi untuk menerima pelbagai kes yang ada. Di dalam konteks ini, keutamaan telah diberikan
kepada kes-kes yang telah ditugaskan oleh Mahkamah dan kes-kes di mana tahanan telah
direman melebihi enam (6) bulan. Perkara yang perlu diambil berat dalam hal ini ialah untuk memastikan
kumpulan peguam sukarela dapat dikembangkan agar lebih banyak kes dapat ditugaskan.
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5.
KLINIK KHIDMAT MAKLUMAT GUAMAN LAC/AWAM 2007
Laporan disediakan oleh Jawatankuasa AWAM
Ahli Jawatankuasa:
Sharmini Thiruchelvam
Stefeny David Foo Li Mei, Michelle Vasanti Clement
Mary Manickam
Hanita Naliane
Raymond Tan
Wakil AWAM
Betty Yeoh
Su Chang
Klinik
Klinik ini dikendalikan secara kerjasama dengan sebuah organisasi sukarela, tanpa-keuntungan
dan bukan-kerajaan wanita, All Women’s Action Society (AWAM). AWAM telah menubuhkan perkhidmatan
kaunseling telefon TELENITA pada tahun 1990. Sebahagiannya sebagai natijah kejayaan AWAM
meningkatkan kesedaran umum mengenai isu-isu keganasan terhadap wanita, AWAM telah menerima
panggilan yang meningkat mengenai wanita dan kanak-kanak yang telah didera/dicabul.
Permintaan terhadap perkhidmatan ini terus meningkat dan AWAM kemudiannya telah meluaskan
perkhidmatan bantuan untuk merangkumi kaunseling secara bersemuka dan juga perkhidmatan
maklumat guaman. Klinik ini telah berjalan semenjak September 1994 berikutan ramai wanita
yang menghubungi TELENITA meminta juga nasihat guaman tetapi tidak mengetahui bagaimana
untuk memperolehi maklumat tersebut dan juga tidak menyedari hak-hak mereka di bawah undangundang. Dari sinilah bermulanya fikiran untuk mengadakan klinik guaman mingguan. Klinik ini
memberikan nasihat guaman dan bantuan mengenai hak ehwal keluarga bagi kedua-dua sivil dan
syarie, keganasan rumahtangga, gangguan seksual, penderaan seksual dan perkara-perkara lain
berhubung dengan wanita. Klinik ini beroperasi dari Isnin hingga Sabtu daripada pukul 10 pagi
sehingga 4.30 petang di Pusat AWAM di Petaling Jaya. Di klinik ini Pelatih Dalam Kamar diwajibkan
untuk melaksanakan tugas mereka di AWAM sebagai sebahagian daripada program bantuan guaman
selama 3 bulan.
Program Latihan Bersama
Pada tahun ini, program latihan bersama untuk pelatih dalam kamar telah dilanjutkan kepada 2
hari. Latihan untuk hari pertama adalah berkenaan dengan kepekaan jantina yang dikendalikan
oleh Kumpulan Tindakan Bersama (JAG) daripada AWAM/WAO/SIS. Program latihan ini telah
diperbaharui dengan memasukkan konsep feminis dan kesamarataan jantina. Objektif utama
konsep baru ini adalah untuk melahirkan kepekaan peguam-peguam muda terhadap isu-isu
kesamarataan jantina dan perspektif undang-undang feminis. Permainan-peranan(role play) telah
dilaksanakan untuk meningkatkan kemahiran perhubungan pelatih dalam kamar, kerana pelatih
tidak dibenarkan untuk memberikan kaunseling kepada anak-anak guam, lantaran mereka bukanlah
kaunselor yang terlatih. Pada hari kedua program, latihan adalah berkenaan undang-undang keluarga sivil
dan prosedur keganasan rumahtangga yang dikendalikan oleh peguam-peguam sukarela daripada
LAC/AWAM dan kakitangan dari AWAM/WAO. Semasa latihan undang-undang keluarga dan syarahan
keganasan rumahtangga, pelatih dalam kamar melibatkan diri dalam pembentangan kes, yang
diselia dan diaturkan oleh penceramah berkenaan. Sesi ini adalah untuk memastikan bahawa
pelatih dalam kamar mampu menggunapakai undang-undang yang relevan selepas mendengar
teori dan mereka diletakan dalam keadaan untuk menggunapakai undang-undang.
Program yang telah dipinda ini, memberikan pelatih dalam kamar satu kefahaman yang lebih baik
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dan jelas berkenaan isu-isu dan perspektif-perspektif. Di samping itu, pelatih dalam kamar juga
akan menyedari kekurangan (loop holes) dalam undang-undang dan juga amalan tiada-sokongan
oleh penyedia perkhidmatan. Tahun yang berlalu juga melihat pelatih dalam kamar lelaki mengambil
bahagian dalam Klinik ini, satu rangsangan dalam perkembangan kedua-dua jantina berganding
bahu dalam usaha menamatkan keganasan terhadap wanita dan juga dalam perkongsian dengan
Pusat Bantuan Guaman Selangor.
Aktiviti
Pada tahun ini, selain menjalankan tugas di klinik, beberapa pelatih dalam kamar telah membantu dalam mengikuti prosiding Mahkamah dalam kes tersohor berkaitan pertukaran agama.
Aktiviti lain yang dibantu oleh pelatih dalam kamar pada tahun 2007 :
Bil
1
2
3
Tarikh
30th Jun
8th Sep
9th Sep
Jumlah
Aktiviti
“Walk and Wheel” events
“National Law Awareness Week”
“Family Day for Free-scale”
Bilangan Pelatih
3
1
1
5
Statistik
Bilangan Pelatih-Pelatih Dalam Kamar di AWAM dari Januari hingga Disember 2007
Bil
1
2
3
4
Batch
48
49
50
51
JUMLAH
Tarikh
26/2 – 26/5
21/5 – 17/8
13/8 – 10/11
5/11 – 2/2/08
Bilangan Pelajar
12
11
12
12
47
Kes-Kes dari Januari hingga November 2007
JENIS-JENIS KES
Penceraian (Sivil)
Nafkah (Sivil)
Hak Penjagaan (Sivil)
Perintah Tahanan Sementara (IPO)
Masalah Kewangan
Penculikan
Orang Hilang
Rogol
Penceraian (Syariah)
Hak Penjagaan (Syariah)
Keganasan Rumah tangga
Gangguan Seksual
Undang-Undang
Pertukaran Agama
Immigresen
Lain-lain
JUMLAH BESAR
148
JUMLAH
172
19
21
4
9
4
3
4
9
7
30
23
6
5
2
69
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Dari Januari hingga November 2007, Klinik AWAM telah menerima sebanyak 387 kes-kes seperti
yang tertera di jadual atas. KESIMPULAN
Dengan perkhidmatan maklumat guaman dijalankan di klinik LAC/AWAM, bilangan kes yang dikendalikan
berkurangan berbanding dengan jumlah 517 kes-kes pada tahun lepas. Juga diperhatikan, walaupun
hampir kesemua pelatih dalam kamar melayan klien klinik ini seperti yang dijadualkan, ada
sesetengahnya lebih tekun dan rajin dari yang lain, ada pula yang hanya ‘menanti masa’ malahan
terus menghilangkan diri dengan pelbagai alasan.
AWAM mengesa kedua-dua LACKL dan LAC Selangor untuk menghantar peguam mereka bagi
memantau kes-kes yang dikendalikan pelatih dalam kamar khususnya dan sikap pelatih secara
amnya. Kami berterima kasih kepada kedua-dua LAC untuk sokongan yang berterusan dan
menanti untuk memberikan perkhidmatan maklumat guaman yang lebih baik pada tahun 2008.
6.
KLINIK BANTUAN GUAMAN LAC/WAO
Laporan disediakan oleh Jessie Ang, WAO
Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa:
Meera Samanthar (Presiden)
Shoba Aiyar (Pengurus Pekerja Sosial)
Jessie Ang (Koordinator / Penyelaras)
Objektif Klinik LAC/WAO:1.
Membantu pekerja-pekerja sosial WAO yang berada di tempat perlindungan dengan panggilan
telefon – memberi maklumat mengenai keganasan rumahtangga, prosedur-prosedur perceraian,
gangguan seksual dan sebagainya;
2.
Membantu anakguam WAO membuat laporan polis dan menemani mereka ke hospital;
3.
Menanam dan memikat pelatih dalam kamar mengenai kerja-kerja NGO ini.
WAO ialah sebuah organisasi yang tidak membuat keuntungan dengan polisi bahawa tiada sesiapa
yang patut didera dan secara khusus, WAO hanya memilih untuk menolong wanita dan anak-anak
mereka.
WAO telah memberi perlindungan kepada wanita-wanita dan kanak-kanak yang telah didera secara
fizikal, psikologi, seksual, kewangan dan sosial sejak 25 tahun yang lepas,
Di samping memberi sokongan kepada wanita-wanita tersebut, WAO juga memperjuangkan dan
mengenengahkan hak-hak wanita bersama-sama dengan organisasi wanita yang lain.
Sebelum pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar menyertai WAO, mereka mesti terlebih dahulu memulakan
latihan mereka di LAC/AWAM/WAO/SIS. Sukatan pelajaran mereka termasuklah undang-undang
keluarga, syariah, kepekaan jantina, keganasan rumahtangga, keganasan terhadap wanita dan
“Proses Bantuan”.
WAO akan mengambil seorang pelatih setiap satu dari LAC-KL dan LAC-Selangor daripada setiap
kelompok. Pelatih-pelatih akan datang ke tempat perlindungan pada hari Isnin dan Jumaat untuk
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12 sesi. Pelatih-pelatih yang datang ke tempat perlindungan tidak hanya melayan panggilan telefon
tetapi juga menemani anakguam ke Mahkamah, membantu anakguam membuat laporan polis,
memberi nasihat guaman melalui telefon dan bersemuka dengananakguam, mendokumentasikan
kes-kes, pergi ke pejabat imigresen, hospital, kedutaan dan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara.
Selain daripada menjawab panggilan telefon dan menemani anak-anak guam ke pelbagai tempat,
pelatih-pelatih juga membuat kajian dan menyelaras-bersama kumpulan perbincangan dengan
kakitangan WAO mengenai berbagai isukepada wanita-wanita di tempat perlindungan. Pelatihpelatih yang datang ke tempat perlindungan tersebut tidak sahaja berkerja di dalam lingkungan
latihan mereka, malah sesetengah di antara mereka sanggup meluangkan masa untuk bersama
dengan wanita-wanita dan anak-anak mereka. Mereka makan bersama, berbual dan berkawan
dengan wanita-wanita tersebut. Mereka juga bertolak-ansur terhadap keperluan wanita-wanita
tersebut.
WAO mempunyai lebih kurang 10 pelatih dalam kamar yang hadir ke tempat perlindungan dari
Disember 2006 hingga November 2007.
Jenis-jenis panggilan yang dikendalikan oleh pelatih-pelatih:1.
Keganasan rumahtangga
45
2.
Prosedur perceraian 52
3.
Nafkah
10
4.
Penjagaan
14
5.
Masalah kewangan 8
6.
Isteri warga asing
4
7.
Ibu tunggal
4
8.
Gangguan Seksual
5
9.
Masalah dengan polis 2
10.
Perintah Perlindungan Sementara
6
11.
Kebankrapan 4
12.
Masalah rumahtangga
6
13.
Masalah perumahan 2
14.
Pertukaran ke agama Islam 2
15.
Wasiat/EPF 1
16.
Pembahagian Harta 1
17.
Pengambilan Anak angkat
2
18.
Lain-lain
5
___
173
Seorang pemanggil mungkin menghadapi beberapa masalah. Purata, seorang pelatih melayan 5
panggilan sehari di WAO.
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7.
KLINIK LAC/SIS (Sisters in Islam)
Laporan Disediakan oleh SIS
Wakil SIS
Radzlinawati Razali
Nur Fadhlin Binti Mohd Yusof
Pendahuluan
Klinik LAC/SIS meyediakan nasihat undang-undang secara percuma, maklumat dan bantuan kepada
orang awam berkenaan undang-undang Malaysia, terutamanya undang-undang syariah. Pelatih
dalam kamar yang ditugaskan untuk melaksanakan bantuan guaman dengan Klinik LAC/SIS terlibat dalam
memberi nasihat undang-undang percuma kepada anakguam, membuat penyelidikan mengenai
isu-isu undang-undang, dan membuat dokumentasi wajar dan terperinci mengenai persoalan yang
diajukan oleh anak guam. Mereka juga dikehendaki menghubungi badan-badan berkaitan dalam
membantu anakguam, sebagai contohnya, Pusat Bantuan Guaman, Biro Bantuan Guaman, balai
polis, pejabat agama negeri, dan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara.
Bagi membekalkan pelatih dengan pengetahuan dan kemahiran yang relevan untuk melaksanakan
bantuan guaman di Klinik LAC/SIS, SIS telah merangka satu latihan khusus yang perlu dijalani
pelatih. Latihan ini memperkenalkan para pelatih kepada SIS dan kerja-kerja yang dijalankannya,
menonjolkan perbezaan antara undang-undang syariah Malaysia dengan undang-undang sivil
Malaysia dan dengan undang-undang Islam yang dipraktikkan di negara Islam lain, bagaimana
untuk mengendalikan anakguam SIS dengan berkesan, dan tanggungjawab yang perlu mereka
laksanakan di Klinik LAC/SIS.
Setakat 26.11.2007, terdapat sejumlah 673 anakguam bagi Klinik LAC/SIS. Ini bermakna, setiap
pelatih yang ditugaskan ke Klinik LAC/SIS tahun ini (sejumlah 12 pelatih kesemuanya) telah terpaksa mengendalikan secara purata 56 kes semasa melaksanakan tanggungjawab bantuan guaman
mereka.
Para pelatih juga memperolehi pengalaman sebenar tentang bagaimana undang-undang digunakan
apabila wanita terlibat. Ini dilakukan dengan dua cara: dengan memerhatikan prosiding mahkamah
di bawah program yang dikenali sebagai ‘CourtWatch’; dan melalui aktiviti-aktiviti yang dikelolakan
bersama dengan Klinik NGO lain.
Di bawah program CourtWatch, para pelatih dikehendaki memerhatikan prosiding di mahkamah,
dengan memberi tumpuan khusus kepada dua perkara, yakni, kelewatan dan kecondongan. Para
pelatih kemudiannya merekodkan hasil pemerhatian mereka untuk analisa.
Di bawah aktiviti-bersama dengan Klinik NGO lain, para pelatih SIS akan mendapat pengalaman
sebenar yang lebih luas. Kalau dulu mereka lebih tertumpu kepada pengendalian kes-kes syariah,
kini mereka dapat melihat bagaimana undang-undang lain digunapakai dalam situasi kehidupan
sebenar, yakni dalam kes-kes keganasan rumahtangga, imigresen, dan buruh. Ini telah dilakukan
dengan menghantar pelatih SIS untuk mengekori pelatih dari Klinik NGO lain, iaitu AWAM, WAO
dan Tenaganita, ke badan-badan berkaitan. Badan-badan tersebut termasuklah jabatan imigresen,
kedutaaan, pejabat buruh dan jabatan perhubungan perusahaan, rumah perlindungan, jabatan
kebajikan masyarakat, badan kehakiman syariah, balai polis dan kementerian atau pusat perkhidmatan
ahli parlimen.
Para pelatih SIS juga digalakkan untuk mengambil bahagian dalam aktivisma dan program “outreach”,
contohnya, mengendalikan gerai pameran semasa Minggu Kesedaran Undang-Undang (8.9.2007)
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yang dianjurdkan oleh Pusat Bantuan Guaman Selangor, dan menyebarkan risalah pada Hari Hak
Untuk Tahu Antarabangsa (28.9.2007) yang dikelolakan oleh Pusat Untuk Kewartawanan Bebas.
Kekuatan
1.
Melaksanakan bantuan guaman dengan Klinik LAC/SIS membantu dalam mempekakan
pelatih dalam kamar kepada isu-isu, terutamanya isu undang-undang yang dihadapi wanita
dan kanak-kanak, yakni wanita dan kanak-kanak Muslim;
2.
Klinik LAC/SIS merupakan tempat berkesan menghadapi kekhuatiran awam mengenai
hak-hak mereka di bawah undang-undang;
3.
Data yang diperolehi daripada Klinik LAC/SIS berguna bagi aktivisma hak-hak wanita dan
aktiviti pembaharuan undang-undang; dan
4.
Klinik LAC/SIS menonjolkan isu-isu kepentingan awam, seperti nafkah anak, kesan perkahwinan
poligami, dan pengawalan moral.
Kelemahan
Kekurangan sokongan daripada pengamal undang-undang syariah untuk bertindak sebagai peguam panel.
Cadangan-Cadangan
152
1.
Penambahan jumlah pelatih dalam kamar yang ditugaskan ke Klinik LAC/SIS untuk menangani
jumlah anak guam yang semakin meningkat;
2.
Memulakan diskusi dengan fakulti undang-undang berkenaan kurikulum yang disediakan:
kebanyakan pelatih dalam kamar yang menyertai program bantuan guaman di Klinik LAC/
SIS tidak didedahkan dengan realiti pemakaian undang-undang di Malaysia. Ada juga di
antara mereka yang datang ke Klinik LAC/SIS dengan tanggapan salah akan undang-undang
serta penggunaannya; dan
3.
Membina hubungan dengan para pengamal syariah untuk menggalakkan mereka menjadi
panel peguam bagi Klinik ini.
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8.
LAC/TENAGANITA KLINIK PERKERJA MIGRAN
Laporan Disediakan oleh Tenaganita
Wakil Tenaganita
Aegile Fernandez
Florida
Malaysia terus bergantung kepada tenaga-kerja asing untuk memenuhi pertumbuhan ekonominya.
Berdasarkan statistik Imigresen, terdapat lebih daripada 2.2 juta pekerja asing dan jumlahnya semakin meningkat. 57.5 peratus adalah dari negara jiran Indonesia sementara 11 peratus adalah
dari Nepal, 8.8 peratus dari Bangladesh dan 7 peratus dari India (sumber: NST 10 Okt. 2007).
Selanjutnya dikatakan bahawa pada 2010 negara ini akan menggunakan lebih kurang 10 juta
pekerja migran untuk memenuhi pasaran tenaga-kerjanya.
Hak-hak pekerja migran telah dinafikan secara berterusan dengan ketiadaan undang-undang dan
polisi yang jelas dan tetap. Pihak Imigresen berterusan menafikan pekerja hak untuk tinggal dan
bekerja sementara menunggu keputusan kes-kes mereka.
Aduan terbanyak yang difailkan di Tenaganita adalah berkaitan dengan pekerjaan, tidak memiliki
dokumen, ketidak-pembaharuan permit kerja dan penganiayaan. Bermula tahun ini, Tenaganita
telah menerima jumlah aduan yang mencemaskan daripada pekerja-pekerja Bangladesh yang
baru direkrut yang tiba untuk pekerjaan. Lebih kurang 300,000 permit kerja telah diluluskan oleh
Kementerian Dalam Negeri untuk pekerja-pekerja Bangladesh. Kebanyakkan daripada pekerja ini
telah diambil bekerja melalui syarikat-syarikat “Out Sourcing” yang baru diperkenalkan. Tenaganita
menerima banyak aduan daripada pekerja-pekerja mengenai tidak ditempatkan dalam pekerjaan
seperti yang dijanjikan atau dipindahkan dari satu syarikat ke syarikat lain dalam tempoh beberapa
minggu. Memindahkan pekerja-pekerja ini dari satu tempat ke satu tempat lain tanpa pekerjaan
yang sesuai ataupun gaji. Ini telah mengakibatkan ribuan pekerja ditinggalkan dengan ketiadaan
makanan, air dan tempat perlindungan. Bila sahaja para pekerja menuntut pekerjaan dan gaji,
agen-agen tersebut bersama dengan majikan, mengugut dan memukul mereka.
Pada masa yang sama, ribuan pekerja terkandas di lapangan terbang semasa ketibaan untuk
berhari-hari lamanya kerana majikan gagal menjemput mereka. Kegagalan majikan menjemput
pekerja pada masa yang telah ditetapkan oleh pihak Imigresen akan menyebabkan pekerja
ditahan di Pusat Tahanan KLIA dan kemudiannya dihantar balik ke negara asal. Keputusan sebegini
tidak menangani isu-isu punca dan tidak juga meletakkan majikan dalam keadaan tertanggungjawabkan.
Yang menjadi mangsa ialah para pekerja, mereka yang menanggung akibatnya, kerana mereka
telah membayar kesemua simpanan mereka, meminjam wang dengan kadar faedah yang tinggi.
Mereka telah membayar sehingga 200,000 taka (RM 12,000) untuk bekerja di Malaysia.
Polisi “Out Sourcing” telah diperkenalkan oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri pada Ogos 2006 untuk
pekerjaan yang memerlukan kurang daripada 50 orang pekerja. Bagi syarikat yang mengambil
lebih daripada 50 orang pekerja pula, mereka mempunyai pilihan sama ada untuk mengunakan
syarikat “out sourcing” atau mengambil sendiri pekerja secara terus. Syarikat-syarikat “out sourcing”
bertanggungjawab atas setiap aspek berkaitan pekerja. Justeru, syarikat prinsipal tidak mempunyai apaapa tanggungjawab terhadap para pekerja. Pembayaran gaji dibuat oleh syarikat prinsipal terus
kepada syarikat “out sourcing” yang akan menolak komisen mereka daripada gaji pekerja sebelum
pembayaran dibuat kepada pekerja. Dengan demikian, polisi “out sourcing” dengan jelas bercanggah
dengan Akta Pekerjaan yang melindungi para pekerja.
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Pada Oktober 2007, kerajaan telah mengumumkan satu lagi polisi baru iaitu bahawa pengurusan
pusat tahanan akan diambilalih oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri daripada Jabatan Penjara. Kerajaan
berterusan membuat polisi secara ‘ad hoc” tanpa pendekatan perbincangan. Tenaganita amat prihatin
akan keputusan mendapatkan khidmat organisasi seperti RELA bagi membantu dalam pengurusan
pusat-pusat tahanan. Amatlah membimbangkan bahawa sukarelawan diberi kuasa yang begitu
menyeluruh yang akan menyebabkan berlakunya rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa dalam tahanan
dengan wanita dan kanak-kanak menjadi kumpulan yang paling terancam. Dengan Jabatan Immigresen
berserta RELA sahaja melaksanakan penangkapan pendatang dan juga menguruskan pusat
tahanan, maka tidak akan ada sistem sekat dan imbangan dan juga pemantauan.
Klinik pekerja asing, satu program bersama dengan Pusat Bantuan Guaman (Majlis Peguam) melalui
sangkutan para pelatih dalam kamar telah banyak membantu pekerja asing dalam perjuangan
harian mereka. Peguam-peguam muda menjalani 14 hari tugasan bantuan guaman bagi membantu
pekerja asing di dalam pelbagai aspek. Di antara aktiviti dan bantuan yang diberikan ialah
mendokumentasikan kes-kes mereka, berunding untuk penyelesaian, memfailkan kes di Jabatan
Buruh/Mahkamah yang berkenaan, menemani pekerja dalam membuat laporan polis dan dalam
permohonan kepada Jabatan Immigresen untuk mengesahtarafkan kedudukan mereka di sini
sementara menunggu kes mereka diputuskan dan juga penghantaran pulang dengan selamat ke
negeri asal pekerja-pekerja tersebut. Pelatih dalam kamar juga membantu menyusuli kes-kes dan
melakukan penyelidikan undang-undang tertentu dan polisi-polisi yang berkait dengan pekerja asing.
Program sangkutan tersebut adalah satu jalan untuk peguam-peguam muda mempelajari kesan
penghijrahan dalam konteks Globalisasi. Selanjutnya, ia juga menjadikan Pelatih Dalam Kamar
lebih peka terhadap hak asasi dan layanan yang tidak berperikemanusian terhadap pekerja asing.
Program tersebut menekankan kesefahaman, bukan simpati dan membuka kepalsuan imej negatif
mengenai pekerja asing.
Namun, kelemahan program tersebut ialah kurangannya pengalaman dan kurangnya sifat mendesak
peguam-peguam muda yang mewakili pekerja-pekerja asing. Peguam-peguam muda juga tidak dapat
menganalisa secara kritikal terutama apabila wujudnya undang-undang dan polisi-polisi yang
bercanggah.
Untuk tahun 2007, 51 orang peguam muda telah ditugaskan ke klinik Bantuan Guaman/Pekerja
Asing Tenaganita. Untuk tahun semasa, jumlah kes-kes yang diuruskan telah meningkat, aktivitiaktiviti dan “outreach” kommuniti telah juga diperluaskan. Namun, pengurangan jumlah pelatih
dalam kamar telah mengakibatkan tergendalanya program-program.
MAHKAMAH /JABATAN
Jabatan Perhubungan Perusahaan
Mahkamah Perusahaan
Jabatan Buruh/Mahkamah
Lain-lain – Jabatan Buruh (Penilaian Insuran)
Mahkamah Tuntutan Kecil
Mahkamah Majistret
Mahkamah Rayuan
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3 (105 MW)
4
13
3
1
1
4
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PERLINDUNGAN HAK MIGRAN
Laporan Perlanggaran Hak Pekerja Migran setakat 6 Disember, 2007
PENGURUSAN KES
Jenis Aduan
PEKERJAAN
Gaji tidak dibayar
Pemberhentian kerja tidak sah/ konstruktif
Pemotongan gaji yang salah
Tiada hari rehat
PELANGGARAN KONTRAK
Tiada kontrak
Gaji rendah
Pekerjaan lebih masa tidak dibayar
Pekerja dikontrakkan (out - sourcing)
Waktu pekerjaan yang panjang
Tiada kerja di tempat kerja
Pemotongan levi
Tiada tempat tinggal
STATUS UNDANG-UNDANG
Penahanan passport
Permit kerja tidak diperbaharui
Tinggal melebihi tempoh
Visa Pelajar
Pengerahan (ditipu oleh agen)
Dokumen Palsu
TANGKAPAN, PENAHANAN DAN DEPORTASI
Tangkapan, Penahanan & Deportasi
Tangkapan, Penahana & Deportasi (pelarian)
KESIHATAN
OSHA
Rawatan Perubatan
Kemalangan Industri
Penderaan dan penganiayaan
Keadaan hidup yang daif
Kematian / bunuh diri
KELUARGA DAN PERKAHWINAN
Visa pasangan
Penjagaan anak
Perkara kekeluargaan yang lain
LAIN-LAIN
Rompakan
Kecurian
Bil. Aduan
Bil. Pengadu
59
3
2
2
271
3
16
22
3
4
3
21
2
14
30
4
258
4
4
1930
7
1425
30
207
56
9
3
1
9
3
678
26
3
1
43
3
27
4
91
16
5
5
19
12
4
3
64
5
19
1183
112
2
4
2
4
4
2
4
5
2
5
2
(Dari Januari 2007 hingga 6 Disember 2007, sebanyak 246 fail yang dibuka melibatkan 2350
pekerja migran)
Bilangan aduan yang diterima pada tahun ini telah meningkat. Seorang pekerja migran yang
datang ke Klinik Migran mempunyai beberapa aduan. Namun, hanya beberapa kes sahaja yang
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telah difailkan di Mahkamah. Kebanyakan pekerja memutuskan untuk tidak memfailkan kes
akibat kelewatan berpanjangan dalam proses Mahkamah dan kedudukan mereka di dalam negara
ini ialah di atas budibicara Imigresen tanpa pekerjaan alternatif.
Tahun ini, aduan berkenaan pekerjaan “out sourcing” telah meningkat dengan banyaknya. Tenaganita
mendapati kami menghadpi cabaran yang berat terutamanya dengan sumber kewangan dan kakitangan
yang terhad. Tenaganita hanya mampu membantu seberapa banyak yangdapat. Oleh yang demikian,
lebih daripada 1000 pekerja telah diberi kaunseling melalui telefon dan nasihat undang-undang
sahaja. Sesetengah kes juga dirujuk kepada rakan kongsi organisasi seluruh negara untuk bantuan
segera.
Tenaganita berserta Migration Working Group telah menerima sokongan yang kuat daripada kumpulankumpulan keagamaan dan orang perseorangan dalam menyediakan makanan dan perlindungan.
Pada Julai 2007, suatu perbincangan bersama telah dianjurkan oleh Majlis Peguam dan Tenaganita
berkenaan “out sourcing” berikutan daripada Pencarian Fakta oleh Tenaganita berkenaan dengannya. Ia telah
dihadiri oleh wakil daripada Kementerian Dalam Negeri, pegawai-pegawai diplomatik, SUHAKAM,
NGO-NGO, Transparency International, ahli-ahli Badan Peguam dan beberapa individu lain.
Beberapa orang pekerja yang terlibat telah memberikan keterangan mereka. Ini akan disusuli oleh
perbincanan bersama yang kedua pada 2008.
Kesan positif daripada perbincangan bersama tersebut adalah kami dapat berhubung secara terus
dengan wakil daripada Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan memperkukuhkan pertalian di antara Kerajaan
Bangladesh dan Tenaganita. Satu perwakilan terdiri daripada pegawai tinggi kerajaan sementara
Bangladesh telah sendiri melawat Malaysia untuk meninjau perkara ini. Cik Latheefa Koya dan Cik
Renuka Ahnanthkrishana daripada Pusat Bantuan Guaman telah banyak menghabiskan masa dan
tenaga untuk bertemu dengan pekerja-pekerja Bangladesh secara peribadi dan mewakili mereka
di dalam pertikaian mereka.
9.
BCLACKL/PTF KLINIK PERKHIDMATAN MAKLUMAT PERUNDANGAN
Laporan disediakan oleh Preetam Kaur & So Chien Hao
Ahli Jawatankuasa
Wakil PBG: Preetam Kaur So Chien Hao James Loh
Lim Ka-Tsung, Joachim
Lee Choo Suat, Tevina
Wakil PTF:
Hisham Hussein (Pengerusi, PTF)
Klinik LAC/PTF
Pusat Bantuan Guaman Majlis Peguam Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (BCLACKL) bersama-sama dengan
Yayasan Pink Triangle (PTF) telah mengendalikan Klinik Guaman untuk lima (5) kumpulan yang
diakui sebagai terpinggir iaitu pengguna dadah, pekerja seks, mereka yang hidup dengan HIV/
AIDS, transeksual dan lelaki homoseks.
Kami berbangga untuk mengumumkan bahawa baru-baru ini, PTF telah berjaya mendapatkan dana
yang besar daripada suatu kementerian. Dengan dana ini, mereka telah mendapatkan 3 Pusat di
bangunan SONY berdekatan Jalan Sultan Ismail untuk pekerja seks, transeksual, dan Program “Positive
Living People” sementara program Homosexuals (MSM) telah mendapatkan geran mereka dan
telah berjaya mendapatkan satu lagi pusat di bank CIMB berhampiran dengan lokasi ketiga-tiga
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Pusat diatas. Ini membuktikan kesediaan pihak kerajaan dalam usaha mencegah gejala HIV/AIDS
& STI.
Seperti yang diketahui, Klinik LAC/PTF mempunyai 2 pelatih dalam kamar yang ditugaskan untuk
bekerja secara berpasangan di Klinik PT setiap hari Khamis. Bagi sesi pagi, para pelatih biasaannya
membantu Klinik LAC dengan bertemu anakguam dan campurtangan guaman untuk Klinik LAC
sementara di sebelah petang dari pukul 2 hingga 4.30 petang, para pelatih akan bergilir-gilir
menjalankan tugas mereka di 4 Pusat yang berlainan.
Kes-kes penting yang dikendalikan oleh Pelatih
Para pelatih telah berjaya mendapatkan maklumat mengenai gangguan polis, penderaan, penganiayaan
samseng dan tanggapan seorang wanita melarat yang tidak mempunyai sebarang dokumen
pengenalan diri. Para pelatih sentiasa berbincang mengenai bagaimana kumpulan ini dijadikan
mangsa keadaan bersama staf dan ahli jawatankuasa.
Para pelatih juga telah berjaya membantu seorang bekas pekerja seks yang mempunyai bayi daripada
dilanjutkan tahanan reman oleh kerana beliau ialah pemegang kad pengenalan hijau. Para pelatih
telah mendapatkan bantuan yang diperlukan dari pihak berkuasa berkenaan dan campurtangan
guaman kami berjaya dan para pelatih telah meneruskan khidmat sukarela mereka kepada PTF.
Kini mereka membantu merangka sistem pengkalan data bagi program pekerja seks.
Para pelatih PTF yang baru pula menyusuli satu kes untuk 3 bulan berkaitan dengan seorang wanita
papa yang tinggal di jalanan, mengalami gangguan mental dan juga mengandung 5 bulan. Dia
telah dibawa kepada kami oleh teman lelakinya yang merupakan seorang pengguna dadah. Para
pelatih membantu dengan berhubung abatan Pendaftaran Wilayah Persekutuan (JPNWP). Pegawai
yang terlibat berusaha untuk mengenalpasti identiti perempuan tersebut dan analisis cap jari telah
disediakan untuk LAC tetapi malangnya, tiada rekod wanita tersebut dijumpai. Para pelatih berasa
sedih dengan kesudahan kes ini dan mengambil inisiatif untuk ke hospital bagi menziarahi wanita
tersebut dan anaknya yang dilahirkan awal seminggu namun sihat.
Pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar juga turut membantu empat orang adik-beradik perempuan yang
tidak memiliki sijil kelahiran meskipun kesemua mereka telah melebihi 40 tahun. Kes-kes yang
menyedihkan ini masih berlaku dan berterusan di dalam masyarakat kita meskipun kita telah
menyambut ulangtahun kemerdekaan yang ke 50 baru-baru ini.
Kerjasama dengan Majlis AIDS Malaysia (MAC)
Pada tahun ini LAC telah menembusi Majlis AIDS Malaysia (MAC) buat julung kalinya dan kini kami
sedang membantu mereka berkenaan pekara bersangkutan undang-undang dalam projek
“Integrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance” (IBBS) di bawah Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Kami
juga bercadang untuk mengeratkan lagi hubungan dengan memanjangkan perkhidmatan kami
kepada badan-badan bersekutu MAC menjelang tahun depan.
Aktiviti Tahun 2007
1.
Kami telah mengadakan 4 program latihan untuk Pelatih Dalam Kamar yang mana kami
telah menyuntik kepekaan mereka berkaitan isu-isu berkaitan yang dihadapi oleh komuniti.
Sebilangan daripada Pelatih Dalam Kamar telah mengambil inisiatif untuk menjadi
sukarelawan dan bekerjasama dengan PTF.
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2.
Kami telah mengadakan mesyuarat jawatankuasa yang pertama pada 30 Mac 2007 (Jumaat)
pada jam 6.50 petang bertempat di LAC
3.
Kami juga telah mengadakan satu Bengkel berserta Klinik Guaman untuk program MSM
pada 8 April 2007 (Ahad)
4.
Kami juga turut menyertai perbincangan meja-bulat mengenai “Legal Review & Response”
yang dianjurkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan pada 16 April 2007.
5. Kami juga telah mengadakan satu Bengkel berserta Klinik Guaman di “Ikhlas Drop In Centre
for Drug Users” pada 27 April 2007 (Jumaat) jam 3.00 petang dan walaupun diundang,
pihak Polis tidak dapat menghadiri Bengkel ini.
6.
Membantu dalam penganjuran dan mengadakan ceramah-ceramah sempena program
“Give A Hug” di SMK Bandar Baru Seri Petaling pada 9 Jun 2007 (Sabtu) dari 9.00 pagi
hingga 1.00 petang Program ini adalah di bawah Program “Youth Leadership Program/
Award” sekolah tersebut 7.
Kami telah mengadakan mesyuarat jawatankuasa yang ke 2 pada 27 Jun 2007 (Rabu)
pada jam 6.40 petang bertempat di LAC
8.
Ceramah tentang program “Legal Rights for Transsexuals” pada 10 Julai 2007 (Selasa)
pada jam 2.30 petang
9. Sesi Dialog dengan IPD Dang Wangi oleh 5 wakil komuniti daripada PTF dan Ketua-ketua
dari Polis Dang Wangi pada 17 Julai 2007 (Selasa) pada jam 3.00 petang
10. Kami telah mengadakan Bengkel berserta Klinik Guaman untuk Program MSM pada 22
Julai 2007 (Ahad) di PTF
11.
Latihan Paralegal untuk kakitangan, sukarelawan/wati dan ahli Exco PTF yang dianjurkan
oleh KLLAC pada 8 Disember 2007 (Sabtu)
Aktiviti-aktiviti yang dicadangkan untuk tahun 2008
158
1.
Pembaharuan Undang-undang (law reform)
2.
Sesi dialog dengan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara tentang masalah kad pengenalan yang
masih dihadapi oleh komuniti.
3.
Penyelidikan undang-undang oleh pelatih dalam kamar atau “para legals”
4.
Penyediaan risalah-risalah
5.
Memberikan nasihat guaman percuma melalui laman web PTF kepada komuniti-komuniti
terpinggir.
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10.
KLINIK LAC/UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
Laporan yang disediakan oleh Sekretariat
Pengenalan
Klinik LAC / UNHCR adalah projek perintis di antara Pusat Bantuan Guaman Majlis Peguam (Kuala
Lumpur) dan UNHCR yang dimulakan pada Oktober 2006. Program ini telah dimandatkan untuk
memimpin dan menyelaras tindakan antarabangsa bagi melindungi pelarian dan menyelesaikan
masalah pelarian sedunia. Objektif utamanya ialah untuk melindungi hak dan kebajikan pelarian.
Objektif
•
Untuk memberikan nasihat guaman percuma kepada pelarian dan pencari-perlindungan
yang datang ke UNHCR untuk mendapatkan bantuan dalam pelbagai isu undang-undang.
Aktiviti
•
Empat latihan untuk pelatih telah dijalankan dan seramai 12 pelatih kesemuanya telah
menyertai klinik ini.
•
Para pelatih membantu UNHCR dengan menjalankan temu-ramah perlindungan guaman
untuk kes-kes tangkap dan kes-kes mahkamah, memberikan khidmat nasihat guaman
kepada mereka yang menghadapi masalah bahaya perlindungan, menjalankan temu-ramah
penghantaran pulang, mengambil laporan tangkapan, laporan tahanan terkini dan
laporan mahkamah, menghadiri mahkamah untuk “watching brief” dan untuk mendapatkan
pembebasan warga UNHCR daripada pendakwaan dan penahanan berterusan.
•
Pelatih juga terlibat dalam pelbagai aktiviti yang dianjurkan oleh UNHCR.
•
Sehingga November 2007, klinik ini telah membantu hampir 3360 anakguam.
Masalah
•
Para pelatih menghadapi kesukaran memahami prosedur UNHCR dan mengambil masa
yang lama untuk membiasakan diri dengan mandat perlindungan UNHCR.
•
Sumber manusia/ sukarelawan.
Cadangan
•
Menambahkan jumlah pelatih.
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11.
PROGRAM KESEDARAN UNDANG-UNDANG (ORIENTASI)
Laporan Disediakan oleh Sekretariat
Ahli Jawatankuasa
Sivarasa Rasiah (Ketua Projek)
Saravana Kumar (Penolong Ketua Projek)
Rajen Devraj (Majlis Peguam) Abd Shukor Tokachil Nik Waheeda Nik Kamarulzaman
Jessie Tan
Kavitha Rajan Legal AIDERS
Puspawati Rosman (Penolong Ketua Projek)
Latheefa Koya
Harleen Kaur
Kamaliyah Mohd Hafiz
Joyce Oo Mei Ling
Arumugam
Azah Yazmin
Pengenalan
Program ini bertujuan untuk memberikan kepada pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar “dimensi sebenar”
khidmat yang perlu disumbangkan mereka kepada Pusat bantuan Guaman untuk tempoh 14 hari
yang diwajibkan ke atas mereka dan untuk memperkenalkan mereka kepada pelbagai klinik dan
program yang dijalankan oleh Pusat Bantuan Guaman.
Objektif
•
Bagi membantu pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar menemui peranan dan tanggungjawab mereka
sebagai peguam di dalam masyarakat dan untuk memupuk rasa tanggungjawab sosial
dan keprihatinan terhadap hak-hak asasi, “rule of law” dan keadilan.
•
Untuk mengenalkan pelatih–pelatih dalam kamar kepada fikiran yang baru dan untuk menanam
dan membina komitmen jangka panjang terhadap bantuan guaman dan laluan kepada
keadilan, melangkaui tugas bantuan guaman yang diwajibkan
Sesi-sesi ini (lebih kurang 4 ½ jam setiap sesi) mempraktikkan konsep “participative methodology” dengan dinamika kumpulan dan perbincangan umum. Struktur ini masih baru dan sedang di
ubahsuai dan dibina mengikut penilaian pelatih.
Aktiviti-aktiviti
Sehingga 10hb Disember 2007, ahli jawatankuasa telah mengendalikan dan memperkenalkan
program/sesi berikut:
160
•
Lapan (8) sesi orientasi telah diadakan dan lebih kurang 500 pelatih-pelatih dalam kamar
telah dilatih.
•
Ahli jawatankuasa juga telah membuka sesi orientasi ini kepada pelatih daripada negeri
lain. Sehingga kini, ahli jawatankuasa telah melatih lebih kurang 90 orang pelatih daripada
Pusat Bantuan Guaman Selangor.
•
Empat (4) sesi Penilaian Keluar (“Exit Evaluation”) telah diadakan untuk semua pelatih
yang terlibat dalam pelbagai program Pusat Bantuan Guaman bagi menghargai sumbangan
mereka kepada pihak awam dan Pusat Bantuan Guaman. Lebih kurang 440 pelatih telah
mengambil bahagian dalam sesi ini dan telah berkongsi pengalaman dalam pelbagai
program yang mereka jalani sebagai sebahagian daripada tugasan bantuan guaman
mereka. Ketika sesi ini, ahli jawatankuasa telah menjemput Encik Yeo Yang Poh, Encik
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Lim Chee Wee, Encik Ravindra Kumar dan Encik Ravi Nekoo bagi menghargai sumbangan
pelatih-pelatih dan untuk merangsang mereka untuk terus terlibat dalam aktiviti-aktiviti
Pusat Bantuan Guaman (Kuala Lumpur).
•
Berikutan kepada kejayaan program latihan lanjutan (“Advanced Training”) yang dikenali
sebagai “Legal Awareness & Leadership for Lawyers”, yang diadakan di Selesa Health Farm
Resort, Bukit Tinggi, Bentong, Pahang dari 3 hingga 5 November 2006 yang bertujuan untuk
menggalakkan para pelatih dalam kamar serta peguam-peguam muda untuk meneruskan
penglibatan mereka di Pusat Bantuan Guaman untuk jangka panjang, sesi kedua telah
diadakan di Genting Permai Park & Resort dari 20 hingga 22 April 2007. Sesi ini juga telah
berjaya dilaksanakan dan mampu menyebabkan peserta melibatkan diri dalam program
BCLAC (KL) yang seterusnya. Objektif utama program ini adalah (i) untuk merangsang dan
menggalakkan para pelatih dalam kamar serta peguam muda untuk lebih melibatkan diri
dalam aktiviti LAC; (ii) untuk memperkenalkan kemahiran yang diperlukan untuk kepimpinan;
(iii) untuk meningkatakan pengetahuan dalam isu/bidang spesifik.
•
Sebagai susulan kepada program pertama dan kedua sesi “Advanced Training”, satu
perhimpunan telah diadakan untuk peserta kedua-dua program ini. Sesi in telah diadakan
pada 14 Julai 2007 di Bilik Mesyuarat Majlis Peguam. Matlamat sesi perhimpunan ini
adalah untuk berkongsi dan mendapatkan maklumbalas daripada para peserta tentang
aktiviti dan perkembangan mereka sejak dari sesi latihan yang lalu. Ia juga diniatkan
sebagai sesi perancangan di mana para peserta dapat berkongsi fikiran dan membincangkan
langkah susulan mengenai isu-isu yang dibangkitkan semasa sesi latihan yang terdahulu.
Ahli Jawatankuasa juga telah mendapat permintaan daripada peserta untuk mengadakan
sesi susulan bagi program “Advanced Training” memandangkan kebanyakan peserta yang
menghadiri sesi latihan tersebut sangat berminat dan bersemangat untuk memberi sumbangan
selanjutnya tetapi tidak mempunyai idea bagaimana untuk meneruskannya. Ahli
Jawatankuasa juga berbangga untuk mengumumkan bahawa semasa sesi perhimpunan,
telah lahir sekumpulan baru peguam muda yang bersemangat dan ghairah untuk membantu
BCLAC (KL) di dalam pelbagai aktivitnyai yang menggelarkan diri mereka sebagai “Legal
AIDERS”.
•
Setelah mengkaji semula program “Advanced Training” tersebut, ahli jawatankuasa telah
menetapkan untuk mengadakan sesi latihan tersebut dua kali setahun sebagai program
tetap untuk para pelatih dan peguam muda. Berikutan itu, sesi “Advanced Training” yang
ketiga telah diadakan dari 26 hingga 28 October 2007 di The Pines Resort, Fraser Hill.
Legal AIDERS telah diberi peluang untuk membantu menganjurkan aktiviti-aktiviti latihan
dan menjadi pemudah cara/jurulatih sesi tersebut. Pada penghulung latihan, peserta telah
dijemput untuk menyertai Legal AIDERS. Berdasarkan penilaian akhir di sesi latihan tersebut
kami dapati bahawa para peserta terpengaruh dengan cara latihan itu dilaksanakan dan
adalah dicadangkan bahawa latihan seperti ini haruslah diadakan lagi untuk memberi
persediaan kepada peguam-peguam muda memasuki dunia perundangan yang sangat
mencabar.
•
Legal AIDERS telah mengadakan sesi bersama yang ke-dua/AGM pada 20 October 2007
di Auditorium Bar Council. Sesi bersama/AGM ini adalah bertujuan untuk membincangkan
tentang perkembangan Legal AIDERS dan ahli-ahli jawatankuasanya serta untuk mengutarakan
isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan aktiviti-aktiviti yang telah dijalankan terdahulu. Ahli
jawatankuasa juga turut membincangkan tentang program “Advanced Training” yang
ke-tiga dan bercadang untuk mengajak para peseta program tersebut menyertai Legal AIDERS.
Lain-lain isu yang berbangkit ialah yang turut dibincangkan secara mendalam ialah
mengenai ciri-ciri ataupun kriteria-kriteria yang perlu ada pada para peguam muda supaya
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mereka dapat melayakkan diri untuk menyertai Legal AIDERS. Ianya telah dipersetujui secara bersama bahawa ciri atau criteria utma yang diprlukan untuk menyertai Legal AIDERS
ialah dengan menyertai program “Advanced Training” yang diadakan. Ianya juga dipersetujui bahawa, sekiranya ada di antara para pelatih yang tidak menyertai program “Advanced
Training”, tetapi berminat untuk menyertai Legal AIDERS, adalah disarankan supaya individu tersebut meminta mana-mana ahli Legal AIDERS untuk menyarankan nama individu
tersebut kepada semua ahli jawatankuasa.
•
Sesi Bersama turut diadakan untuk para peserta “Advanced Training” yang ke-tiga pada 25
November 2007. Tujuan perjumpaan ini adalah supaya para peserta di dalam sesi ini dapat
melihat semual isu-isu yang telah dibincangkan semasa sesi latihan lanjutan dengan lebih
mendalam lagi termasuklah cadangan dan perbincangan mengenai idea-idea baru serta
memberi peluang kepada mereka untuk menyertai kumpulan Legal AIDERS.
•
Ahli Jawatankuasa juga telah menganjurkan sesi “Training of Trainers” pada 4 Ogos 2007
di Pearl International Hotel. Setelah memerhatikan dan mengkaji beberapa sesi latihan
yang telah diadakan di Pusat sebelum ini, jawatankuasa berpendapat bahawa, kemahiran
presentasi para peserta boleh dipertingkatkan agar mereka dapat mengekalkan minat
yang ada dan dapat menyampaikan kemahiran dan ilmu pengetahuan yang diperlukan.
Kami juga dapat mengenalpasti bahawa, pelatih-pelatih yang ada sekarang, walaupun
mereka mempunyai pengetahuan yang baik tentang undang-undang, namun mereka
masih lagi mempunyai kelemahan dan kekurangan di dalam kemahiran latihan. Disebabkaan
ini, ahli jawatankauasa percaya bahawa sesi Melatih Pelatih “Training of Trainers” ini,
secara asasnya dapat membantu peguam-peguam muda untuk memperkembangkan
dan seterusnya mempertingkatkan kemahiran latihan mereka. Sesi latihan ini telah berjaya
dan terima baik oleh para peserta yang juga membuat permintaan agar sesi lanjutan dapat
diadakan.
Kekuatan
•
Ahli Jawatankuasa yang komited dan berkebolehan dalam menyumbangkan idea untuk
melaksanakan dan seterusnya memperbaiki mutu sesi latihan.
•
Motivasi kepada para pelatih dalam kamar tentang kepentingan memberi khidmat dan
membantu orang-orang yang memerlukan dan ditindas.
•
Pendidikan kepada para pelatih dalam kamar tentang hak-hak asasi dan menanam di
dalam diri mereka nilai-nilai keadilan
Kelemahan
•
Masa dan sumber manusia
•
Tindakan/sesi lanjutan
Saranan
162
•
Agar dapat menganjurkan lebih banyak sesi-sesi kesedaran dan hak-hak asasi manusia
untuk para peguam dan/atau orang ramai
•
Agar dapat mencari jalan untuk mengekalkan penglibatan Legal AIDERS.
BANTUAN GUAMAN
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12.
PROGRAM PEMBANGUNAN KEMAHIRAN (Skills Development Program)
Laporan disediakan oleh Sekretariat
Lalithaambigai
Komathi Arunasalam Komati Kaliappan
L I Kannan
Saravana Kumar
Jessica
Pengenalan
Program ini bertujuan untuk membina dan mengembangkan kemahiran dan meningkatkan motivasi
di kalangan para pelatih dalam kamar, Badan-badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) serta peguam-peguam
sukarela bagi meningkatkan kualiti perkhidmatan yang diberikan kepada para pelanggan.
Matlamat/Tujuan
•
Menganjurkan program latihan khususnya kepada peguam-peguam sukarela dan bakal
peguam-peguam sukarela dan ‘paralegal’ bagi memenuhi keperluan LACKL.
•
Membantu mengendalikan program-program latihan kepada para pelatih dalam kamar.
•
Mengkaji semula program-program latihan dan memberi cadangan untuk memperbaiki, di
mana patut.
•
Melatih para pembimbing.
Aktiviti-aktiviti
i)
-
Sesi Pengenalan dan Perbincangan mengenai Penderaan Seksual Kanak-kanak (12 Mei 2007)
Sesi ini telah dianjurkan dengan kerjasama P.S. The Children, satu badan tidak berasaskan
keuntungan (non-profit organization) yang mengkhususkan kegiatannya kepada kebajikan
kanak-kanak. Tujuan utama sesi perbincangan ini adalah untuk para peguam memahami
caramana kanak-kanak didera secara seksual dan bantuan yang mereka perlukan dari
sudut perundangan. Beberapa ruang berkaitan telah dikenalpasti di mana fraterniti guaman dapat melakukan perubahan dan yang mana pada ketika ini wujudnya kekosongan
yang memerlukan pengisian segera :
i)
Bantuan dalam mengendalikan “watching brief”
ii)
Membantu mangsa dan ahli keluarganya mengenai prosedur Mahkamah serta
perkara-perkara lain yang berkaitan; dan
iii)
Membantu menyumbang bagi mewujudkan satu suasana yang akan menggalakan
Mahkamah untuk melindungi dan mengutarakan kepentingan kanak-kanak
terutamanya ketika kanak-kanak tersebut ialah sebahagian daripada prosedur
Mahkamah, contohnya ketika kanak-kanak tersebut memberi keterangan di
Mahkamah dan sebagainya.
-
Tiga orang penceramah terkenal iaitu En. M Puravalen. Cik Madeleine Yong dan Cik Vicky
Alahokone telah memberikan kepada para peserta perspektif-perspekif berbeza yang
diperlukan untuk memahami tajuk perbincangan dengan lebih baik.
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16 4
-
Jawatankuasa ini berpendapat bahawa sesi perbincangan ini berjaya dengan jumlah peserta
seramai 50 orang – yang merangkumi peguam sukarelawan LAC sedia ada, para peguam
baru, rakan-rakan NGO, para pelatih dalam kamar dan orang awam – yang telah
menghadiri perbincangan ini
ii)
-
Menerbitkan sebuah buku kecil mesra kanak-kanak mengenai Akta Kanak-kanak
Jawatankuasa ini berserta P.S The Children telah melakukan perbincangan secara mendalam
(brain storming) dan menerbitkan satu buku kecil mesra kanak-kanak mengenai Akta
Kanak-kanak yang kini sedang dicetak.
iii)
-
Latihan Cara Mengendalikan Program “OK Tak OK” (6 Oktober 2007)
Jawatankuasa ini bersama Women’s Centre for Change, Pulau Pinang (WCC) telah
menganjurkan satu sesi latihan dan bimbingan dalam mengendalikan program “OK Tak
OK”. Program ini adalah mengenai keselamatan diri dan direka bagi mengajar kanakkanak (11-12 tahun) mengenai sentuhan baik dan sentuhan tak baik. Program ini memberi penekanan terhadap penggunaan perasaan untuk membantu kanak-kanak membezakan di antara sentuhan baik (OK) atau sentuhan tak baik (Tak OK). * Kanak-kanak ini
mempelajari peraturan-peraturan mengenai sentuhan melalui lagu, siri kartun dan cerita,
yang semuanya ditunjukkan dalam VCD. Pada akhir program, kanak-kanak digalakkan untuk memberitahu seorang dewasa yang ia percaya jika mereka berada dalam suatu situasi
yang sukar.
-
Jawatankuasa ini berpendapat bahawa latihan ini berjaya dengan memperoleh maklumbalas
positif para peserta yang menghadiri latihan ini. Kira-kira 50 orang peserta – yang merangkumi
para sukarelawan LAC semasa, peguam-peguam baru, rakan-rakan NGO, guru-guru pra-sekolah,
pelatih-pelatih dan orang awam menghadiri latihan ini.
-
Melalui penilaian, para peserta mengesahkan mereka telah memperolehi banyak maklumat
melalui pendedahan yang diberikan oleh jurulatih, Dr. Prema Devaraj dari WCC semasa
latihannya malahan para peserta telah meminta Pusat supaya menganjurkan lebih banyak
lagi sesi sedemikian kerana mereka merasakan ada lebih banyak lagi yang boleh mereka
pelajari.
iv)
-
Latihan Undang-undang Jenayah – 2 & 3 November 2007, Universiti Malaya
Latihan ini tercetus lantaran kekurangan peguam yang menawarkan diri untuk mengambil
kes-kes, seiringan dengan peningkatan bilangan anakguam LAC yang memerlukan nasihat
guaman dan perwakilan dalam perkara jenayah.
-
Latihan ini telah diadakan dengan penekanan khusus untuk persediaan dan memperbaik
kemahiran kepeguaman para peguam dalam perbicaraan jenayah.
-
Latihan ini mempunyai dua matlamat. Pertama, untuk menyediakan sekumpulan peguam
berkemampuan yang akan memperolehi kemahiran kepeguaman dalam mengendalikan
perbicaraan jenayah dengan cekap. Kedua, setelah memperolehi kemahiran ini, peguampeguam ini dijangka dan akan diminta, dari semasa ke semasa, untuk membantu ahli-ahli
masyarakat miskin dan terpinggir yang meminta perwakilan guaman daripada Pusat Bantuan
Guaman Majlis Peguam (Kuala Lumpur) dan Pusat Bantuan Guaman negeri-negeri lain.
-
Kira-kira 60 peserta – yang merangkumi kumpulan sukarelawan-sukarelawan LAC semasa,
peguam-peguam baru, pelatih-pelatih dan penuntut-penuntut undang-undang telah menghadiri
latihan ini.
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-
Latihan ini telah dikendalikan oleh En. Jagjit Singh. En. Manjeet Singh Dhillon, En. Baljit
Singh, Datuk K. Kumaraendran, En. Tan Hock Chuan, En. Ravi Nekoo, En. Edmund Bon dan
juga Tuan Hakim Harminder Singh Dhaliwal.
-
Bagi kesinambungan latihan ini dan untuk meningkatkan lagi keyakinan para peguam
dalam mengendalikan fail-fail jenayah, suatu sistem “Buddy” telah diperkenalkan, supaya
peguambela-peguambela jenayah kanan dapat memberi tunjuk ajar kepada peguambelapeguambela jenayah baru.
Sepertimana yang dapat diperhatikan dari aktiviti-aktiviti jawatankuasa di atas, pada tahun ini
jawatankuasa telah mengalihkan perhatiannya kepada salah satu isu yang paling membimbangkan
iaitu Penderaan Seksual Kanak-kanak daripada latihan-latihan biasanya untuk para peguam dan
seumpamanya atas sebab jawatankuasa ini merasakan bahawa sudah tiba masanya untuk juga
mendidik para peguam dan pelatih-pelatih mengenai isu-isu sebegini.
Aktiviti-aktiviti yang dicadangkan untuk masa akan datang:
Jawatankuasa ini telah merancang sesi-sesi latihan berikut untuk tahun yang akan datang:
•
Latihan Hak Asasi Manusia untuk para peguam. Secara tentatifnya dijadualkan sekitar
bulan Disember 2007 atau Januari 2008.
•
Latihan untuk pemudah cara/penganjur yang dijadualkan sekitar Disember 2007 atau
Januari 2007.
•
Latihan Undang-undang Keluarga.
•
Latihan Undang-undang Buruh.
•
Latihan Undang-undang Syariah
•
Latihan Kakitangan mengenai Pembangunan Pasukan untuk semua kakitangan LAC setiap negeri.
Kekuatan/Kelebihan
•
Memperbaiki kemahiran guaman, pengetahuan dan keyakinan para peserta, bagi menyediakan
serta menggalakkan mereka untuk mengendalikan fail-fail dan menjalankan kerja-kerja
bantuan guaman.
•
Memudahkan dan melengkapkan program-program latihan BCLAC(KL) yang sedia ada.
•
Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa yang komited dan keupayaan mereka untuk memberikan buah
fikiran bagi melaksanakan dan memperbaiki lagi sesi-sesi latihan.
Kelemahan
•
Masa, sumber manusia / sukarelawan yang memiliki kemahiran bersesuaian atau mereka
yang bersedia untuk dilatih.
•
Tindakan susulan.
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
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Cadangan
166
•
Di masa hadapan LACKL seharusnya menganjurkan ceramah dan/atau program yang
melilbatkan bidang undang-undang lain yang menarik
•
Lebih ramai ahli jawatankuasa sepatutnya melibatkan diri dalam program sedemekian
•
Menggalakkan kakitangan Mahkamah dan juga pihak polis untuk menghadiri sessi sedemikian
dan mendapatkan maklumbalas mereka.
BANTUAN GUAMAN
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007
AUDITED
ACCOUNTS
KUALA LUMPUR BAR COMMITTEE
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
168
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
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|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
169
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
17 0
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
171
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
17 2
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
17 3
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
174
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
17 5
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
176
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
17 7
|KUALA LUMPUR BAR|
17 8
AUDITED ACCOUNTS
A N N U A L R E P O R T 07 | 0 8

CON TE NT - The Kuala Lumpur Bar

Transcription

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