The Malaysian Bar was established under section 41 of the Legal Profession Act 1976. It is an independent Bar whose aims are, inter alia, to uphold the rule of law and the cause of justice, and protect the interest of the legal profession as well as that of the public.
The legal profession in Malaysia is a fused one, where practitioners are admitted as advocates and solicitors of the High Court of Malaya, authorised to both advise clients and represent them in court. Each advocate and solicitor is automatically a member of the Malaysian Bar so long as he/she holds a valid Practising Certificate.
The Bar Council comprises 42 members who are elected annually to manage the affairs and execute the functions of the Malaysian Bar. The Bar Council consists of the immediate past President and Vice-President of the Malaysian Bar, the Chairman of each of the 12 State Bar Committees, one member elected by each of the 12 State Bar Committees to be its representative to the Bar Council, and 16 members elected from throughout Peninsular Malaysia by way of postal ballot.
The Office Bearers, namely the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, are elected annually by the Bar Council at its first meeting which is traditionally held immediately after the Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Bar. They are full time practitioners and their honorary appointments are subject to re-election every year.