The Law Reform and Special Areas Committee (“LRC”) looked into the issue of the increasing number of people who are made bankrupts over their inability to service their credit card debts. A major contributing factor is the excessive compound interest charged on a customer’s credit cards by credit card companies.
LRC is finalising its working paper entitled “Credit Card Transactions Affecting Consumers” for submission to Bank Negara Malaysia, highlighting that the rights accorded to consumers in the United States under the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights Act 2008 be extended to Malaysian consumers as well.
(3) Roundtable Discussions on Recommendations to Amend the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008
LRC held a series of roundtable discussions to collate recommendations to amend the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (“Act”). Members of the Bar and representatives from government authorities, civil society, organisations for persons with special needs, university and academia, attended the roundtables.
LRC is in the midst of preparing a memorandum on recommendations to amend the Act, and once approved by Bar Council, will be submitted to the relevant authorities.
(4) Local Government Elections
LRC is reviewing the working paper prepared based on the views collated at the public forum on “Local Government Elections: Now, Later or Never?” before submitting the same it to the relevant authorities.
(5) Proposed Amendments to Limitation Act 1953
In May 2010, Bar Council responded to the Attorney General’s Chambers request for further clarification on the proposed amendments to the Limitation Act 1953 in relation to latent injuries and damages. This was subsequent to Bar Council submitting its written view in September 2009. There has yet to be any further developments on this issue.
(6) Creating a Law Commission of Malaysia
LRC will organise a roundtable discussion on the need to establish an independent law reform commission that would accept suggestions for reform to the statutes from interested parties, legislators, members of the legal community and the public. The discussion will focus on the Constitution and the structure of a permanent law commission of Malaysia, which would draft and recommend laws for the legislature’s consideration.
Ramachelvam Manimuthu and Hon Kai Ping
Co-Chairpersons
Law Reform and Special Areas Committee
Dated 6 Oct 2011
(1) Ramachelvam Manimuthu (Co-Chairperson)
(2) Hon Kai Ping (Co-Chairperson)
Members:
(3) Helen Chin Lee Min
(4) Murad Ali b Abdullah
(5) Oon Hooi Lin
(6) Pushpa Ratnam
(7) Silvaraju Velu
Officer-in-charge: Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna
Committees 
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Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
