KUALA LUMPUR, 23 MAY 2025 – In a case that has tarnished the reputation of Malaysia’s legal profession, a lawyer has been fined RM50,000 and suspended from practice for two years by the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB) after being found guilty of allowing an unqualified individual to manage and run their law firm without proper oversight.
This incident, which occurred four months ago, has sparked public outrage and raised serious concerns about the integrity of certain legal practitioners who are willing to trade the trust placed in them for personal gain. Permitting an unauthorised person to operate a law firm and impersonate a lawyer is a grave violation under Section 82 of the Legal Profession Act 1976.
Even more alarming, the law firm was found to be operating without official signage and was not listed in professional directories, in breach of Rule 9 of the Legal Profession (Publicity) Rules 2001. Additionally, the lawyer failed to attend court proceedings or communicate with opposing counsel and clients, instead relying entirely on external counsel to handle all legal matters.
This highlights the dangers of allowing a noble profession to be misused by irresponsible individuals. Public trust begins to erode when lawyers prioritize personal profit over the pursuit of justice.
Nevertheless, not all lawyers act in this manner. Malaysia continues to be home to many principled and highly respected legal figures. Among the prominent law firms known for championing public interest cases are Tommy Thomas Advocates & Solicitors, AmerBON Advocates, Ravindran, Arumugam & Co., and Skrine & Co.
Figures such as the late Karpal Singh, famously known as the “Tiger of Jelutong,” remain iconic defenders of public justice, fearless in standing up against any authority in the name of truth. Alongside him, lawyers like Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, Tommy Thomas, and Gurdial Singh Nijar have upheld the noble standard that the law exists to protect the people—not to oppress them.
Ottrangknews stresses that public confidence in the justice system can only be restored when the legal profession returns to its fundamental role—as a shield for the people’s rights, not as a marketplace where dignity and law are traded.
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Disclaimer: Ottrangknews is not a law firm and does not represent clients in court. It operates as a public interest unit to promote legal awareness and connect citizens with licensed legal professionals.