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©New Straits
Times (Used by permission)
By Deborah Loh and Arni Abdul Razak
All papers to be regraded; supplementary Evidence paper
remains nullified
KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. — The results of the controversial
Certificate of Legal Practice July 2001 main exam will not be nullified, the
Legal Profession Qualifying Board announced today, five hours after resumption
of a marathon meeting that had commenced yesterday.
However, all papers sat by the 921 candidates will be regraded except the
October supplementary Evidence paper, which remains nullified.
The decision was announced in a statement by board secretary Datuk Abdul Wahab
Said Ahmad issued to reporters who had waited all day at its office, at 6.30pm.
Attorney-General Datuk Seri Ainum Mohd Saaid, who chairs the board, told
reporters that a Press conference would be held tomorrow to take questions on
the board's decision.
The board had deliberated for 14 hours yesterday in an effort to find a solution
to an apparent deadlock, adjourning only at 1.30am.
The meeting resumed at Menara Tun Razak at 1.30pm today.
The controversy arose after the board had nullified this year's exam following
the discovery of leaks in all five papers. This caused an outcry among
candidates who had taken their case to various parties including the Bar
Council.
About 70 candidates, who turned up at Menara Tun Razak today, erupted into
cheers when the announcement was made. But their relief was short-lived as they
realised that the re-grading would identify those who needed to re-sit the exam.
"Candidates for the July 2001 main exam who passed, conditionally passed or
failed, will continue to retain their respective status"
except for those whose marks were tampered with, the statement said.
The re-grading is being done in view of "the many differences between the marks
awarded by the examiners on the candidates' answer scripts and the marks entered
upon the master result sheets submitted to the board for its approval without
any reasonable explanation.
"Candidates for the July 2001 main exam whose marks have been marked-up or
marked-down are re-graded according to the actual marks awarded by the examiners
on their answer scripts," the board said.
On account of the re-grading, those who obtained conditional passes (those who
failed one paper out of the five, thus requiring a re-sit for that paper) can
opt to re-sit on Jan 21, next year, or on a date to be fixed in the July 2002
main exam.
Those whose results after re-grading are lower than the results obtained in the
October 2001 supplementary exam, other than the Evidence paper, may retain the
higher mark.
As the October Evidence paper remains nullified, candidates
may re-sit the paper on Jan 21, next year, or during the July 2002 main exam.
The board added that candidates will be notified individually in writing of the
new results.
Board member and Bar Council chairman Mah Weng Kwai when met later confirmed
that they were re-marking the papers.
"Yes, we are looking at them one by one. What it means is that everyone will
have new results." Asked how extensive the tampering was, he said, "You'll see
tomorrow." He said they had been re-grading the papers for several days and
hoped to finish tonight.
The board is to print a list of the new results and the students who need to
re-sit the exam. This is to be displayed at the board's office tomorrow.
The board said it was satisfied with the report of the CLP exam director that
there had been a leak of the October Evidence paper two days before the exam.
On leaks of the July 2001 main exam, it said working drafts which were to have
been shredded were found in possession outside of the exam's management.
Irregularities were discovered between the marks awarded by examiners and the
marks disclosed to the board.
The CLP comprises five papers — General Paper, Civil Procedure, Evidence,
Criminal Procedure and Professional Practice.
Candidates have to pass all five papers in a maximum of four attempts.
Those who fail one paper in the main exam can sit the paper
again in the supplementary exam.
Students interviewed later said they were glad the board had acted in their
favour. Some described the regrading as a wise and fair
decision.
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