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New Straits Times KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - A former president of the Malaysian Bar Council has filed an originating summons against the body for allegedly mishandling its November 2003 annual election. Lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon filed the summons at the High Court civil registry yesterday. He is seeking a declaration that the postal ballots referred to in the annual election as stipulated under Section 50(1) of the Legal Profession Act 1976 (LPA) meant that the ballots should be made via post. He also sought a declaration that the election of the council members was null and void because the present president, Khutubul Zaman Bukhari (pic), had personally collected the postal ballot papers from Johor. Alternatively, he is seeking a declaration that Khutubul's action in collecting the ballot papers contravened the Act. He wants the court to exercise its "inherent jurisdiction powers" and order the Malaysian Bar to hold a new election. In a supporting affidavit, Manjeet Singh, who was the Bar Council secretary between 1987 and 1989 and president in 1990, said he was one of 38 candidates nominated for the 12 seats that were contested in the November election. He said the election was held by postal ballot and the results were announced on Dec 1 last year. Manjeet Singh said that during the 11th 2003-2004 Bar Council meeting on Jan 10, the chairman of Johor Bar Committee, Gana Muthusamy (pic), disclosed that Khutubul had campaigned against certain candidates and also collected ballots and brought them back to the council. He said Khutubul's collection of the ballot papers clearly violated the impartiality, transparency and independence of the council elections. Manjeet Singh also alleged that Khutubul was "a person interested in the outcome of the Bar Council elections since he is both the current president and a member of the 2003-2004 Council." He will be on the 2004-2005 Council by virtue of the provisions of the LPA and is expected to offer himself for reelection to the position of president for 2004-2005.
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Circular No 297/2008
