BN MP Noh Omar questions credibility of Bar Council

A Barisan Nasional (BN) Member of Parliament (MP) today questioned the credibility of the Bar Council which he claimed to have frequently acted in disregard of laws.

Datuk Seri Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) specifically questioned the demonstration held by the Bar Council in front of the Bukit Aman police headquarters on April 1 when the police wanted to record the statements of four of its members.

"Why must the Bar Council, a credible and professional body, issue a circular to hold a demonstration in front of Bukit Aman?

"This is clearly against the law," he said when debating the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2015 at Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.

Noh said the Bar Council should not practice the culture of demonstration which was usually done by the opposition as it contravened legal procedures and guidelines.

"I want the amendments (in the bill) to be made comprehensively because today we see the Bar Council is not practicing what they preached, being spokesman for the opposition, acting in total disregard of the laws and giving justice to individual who they see as their leader," he said.

Noh's remark, however, was objected by N. Surendran (PKR-Padang Serai) who stressed that the Bar Council was a respectful body and was held in high regards by international legal organisations.

"The Bar Council has been known as a bold organisation, which stands on its principles and frequently questions injustice or conflicts on human rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. We should be proud of the Bar Council, not criticise them," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri when winding up the debate on the bill, said the amendment of the Legal Profession Act was not aimed at saving the act or any individuals but to protect the interest of the legal body and its members.

"We should not consider the Bar Council as an enemy," she said.

The bill, among others, provides for any advocate and solicitor who has been admitted as an advocate and solicitor and practises in the peninsula, to be subjected to face disciplinary action by Disciplinary Board if one is found violating any of the provisions under the act to maintain the integrity of the profession.

The Disciplinary Board established under section 93 of Act 166 has the power to decide on suspending any advocate and solicitor involved in misconduct of practice for a period not exceeding five years.

The bill was later passed.