Bar Council Election: Lawyers Express Concern Over Race and Religion
Lawyers have until November 30 to submit their marked ballots in the Bar Council election, which will be tallied the following day.
Concerns Over Race and Religion
Lawyers have expressed concern over elements of race and religion creeping into the ongoing Bar Council election campaign, saying it will compromise professionalism in the august body. They also said it would defeat the Bar Council’s opposition to discrimination of any sort.
Campaign Material
The comments arose after campaign material began circulating via WhatsApp promoting the candidacy of 16 members: 15 Malays and one Chinese lawyer from Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The message also quoted a verse from the Quran which touched on Jews and Christians.
Former Council Chief’s Plea
Former council chief Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari called on members to cease sending such messages, saying the Malaysian Bar has no colour, race, creed or religion. "Voting should not be on the basis of skin colour or religion. To exclude Muslims, Christians, Hindus or Buddhists is wrong and contrary to the Bar’s stand. One should look at issues that benefit members as the criteria for election," he told FMT.
Lawyer’s Disgust
Lawyer Chan Kheng Ho took to Facebook to express his disgust at this form of campaigning, calling it unacceptable. "Extremism breeds extremism. Last year, the KL Bar voted for a 100% non-Malay team. I made my views known that it was unacceptable. This year, a Muslim organisation is citing anti-Christian and anti-Jew Quranic verses to garner support for a nearly 100% Malay team with one Chinese candidate among the 16 it has listed. This, too, is unacceptable," his post read.
Call for Decency
Chan said most lawyers were "decent chaps" who respected the rule of law and merely wanted to make a decent living. "Please vote for those you personally know to be decent people and others you know by reputation to have done a good job. Please do not vote according to menus or lists," he said.
Colourless Bar
Lawyer SN Nair said the Bar was "colourless" and had no labels at its inception. "It’s the bounden duty of every lawyer to keep it that way and to not stray even an inch. We owe this to the profession and our role as justice seekers with no regard to colour and creed," he said.
Bar Council Election
The Malaysian Bar is in the midst of electing 16 members to the Bar Council. They will join the immediate past president and vice-president of the Malaysian Bar and the chairmen of twelve state bar committees in Peninsular Malaysia. Each state bar will later elect a second member to represent them on the 42-member Bar Council. The national-level election is ongoing and is being conducted by postal ballot. Lawyers have until November 30 to submit their marked ballots, which will be tallied the following day. The Bar Council for the 2025/2026 term is expected to take office in March next year.
Conclusion
The Bar Council election is a crucial event in the legal profession, and it is essential that lawyers maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. The inclusion of race and religion in the campaign is unacceptable and undermines the very principles of the Bar Council. It is hoped that lawyers will exercise their right to vote wisely and choose candidates who are committed to upholding the values of the Bar Council.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the Bar Council election?
A: The Bar Council election is held to elect members to the Bar Council, which is the governing body of the Malaysian Bar.
Q: Who is eligible to vote in the Bar Council election?
A: All lawyers who are members of the Malaysian Bar are eligible to vote in the Bar Council election.
Q: How is the Bar Council election conducted?
A: The Bar Council election is conducted by postal ballot, and lawyers have until November 30 to submit their marked ballots.
Q: What is the significance of the Bar Council election?
A: The Bar Council election is a crucial event in the legal profession, and it is essential that lawyers maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. The election will determine the composition of the Bar Council for the 2025/2026 term.