Bar Council renewed the Group Term Life (“GTL”) Insurance Policy with AIA Bhd with effect from 1 July 2014, with the annual insurance premium maintained at RM50 per Member of the Bar.
Benefits under LawCare
In the event of a Member’s death, RM40,000 is paid to the Member’s beneficiary or trustee, and an additional sum of RM2,000 is paid for funeral expenses. Members who suffer from terminal illness may claim the sum of RM40,000 immediately.
In cases where a Member suffers from total or partial permanent disability, RM40,000, or a percentage of this sum, is paid to the Member. In both instances, RM30,000 (and the additional RM2,000) is paid from the insurance policy, and the remaining RM10,000 is paid from the LawCare Fund. However, the insurance policy only covers Members up to 70 years of age. Therefore, in the event of death or disability befalling Members above 70 years of age, the full sum is paid from the LawCare Fund.
In addition, where a Member below the age of 70 passes away while abroad, the Member’s family is entitled to claim towards the repatriation expenses.
LawCare also assists the family of a deceased Member; where beneficiaries have been nominated, RM10,000 from the LawCare Fund shall be paid immediately to the nominee. The LawCare Committee also considers compassionate payment in circumstances where Members suffer terminal illness (eg cancer) on a case–by–case basis.
Members can access the GTL Insurance Policy and relevant forms on the Malaysian Bar website at www.malaysianbar.org.my, under the “Resources<Frequently Used Forms” tab.
The premium schedule and claims information for the previous and current terms are tabulated below:
July 2013 to June 2014 | July 2014 to June 2015 | |
Premium paid for | 14,986 Members, at RM50 per Member | 15,443 Members, at RM50 per Member |
Sum insured | RM30,000 | RM30,000 |
Total premium paid | RM749,310 | RM772,160 |
Number of death claims | 28 | 4 (as at 15 Oct 2014) |
Appeal for Donations to Assist Members Affected by Floods
In December 2013, Bar Council initiated a donation campaign to assist Members affected by the floods that hit the states of Johore, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. Proceeds from the donation drive were administered by the LawCare Committee.
There are 39 affected Members and the total donations reached RM21,930. The LawCare Committee has decided that the funds will be distributed equally among the affected Members, in the absence of specific claims of loss and damage.
Puspanathan Sellam
Chairperson
Date: 15 Oct 2014
Puspanathan Sellam (Chairperson) | Kanarasan Ghandinesen (Co–Deputy Chairperson) | Surindar Singh Chain Singh (Co–Deputy Chairperson) | Alex Tan Jee Hian | Asbir Kaur Sangha | Indran V Kumaraguru | Jagjit Singh | Rajendra Raj | S Ravichandran | Serene Ong Si–Oui | Shegi Nair (Officer–in–charge)