Contributed by Joane Sharmila, Editor, Bar Council
Twenty-seven candidates have filed nomination papers for election to the Bar Council for the 2023/2024 term, pursuant to section 49 of the Legal Profession Act 1976 (“LPA”).
The deadline for submission of nomination papers was 31 Oct 2022.
The candidates are:1
- Anand Raj a/l R. Balasupramaniam (Anand Raj) (Kuala Lumpur)
- Azmi bin Mohd Ali (Dato’ Azmi Mohd Ali) (Kuala Lumpur, Johore and Penang)
- Babu Raj a/l Raja Gopal (Babu Raj Raja Gopal) (Perak)
- Bernard Scott (Selangor and Melaka)
- Burhanudeen bin Abdul Wahid (Kedah)
- Chan Weng Keng (Roger Chan Weng Keng) (Kuala Lumpur)
- Chin Wai Mun (Isabelle Chin) (Kuala Lumpur)
- Dipendra a/l Harshad Rai (H R Dipendra) (Kuala Lumpur)
- Fahri Azzat (Selangor)
- Farez bin Mohd Ali Jinnah (Farez Jinnah) (Selangor)
- Fariz Irwan bin Mustafa (Terengganu)
- Kee Hui Yee (Kuala Lumpur)
- Komathi a/p Arunasalam (Komathi Arunasalam) (Selangor)
- Larissa Ann Louis (Selangor)
- Mohamad Redzuan bin Idrus (Redzuan Idrus) (Penang)
- Murshidah bt Mustafa (Murshidah Mustafa) (Kedah, Penang and Selangor)
- Nazri b Mustafa (Dato’ Nazri bin Mustafa) (Kuala Lumpur)
- New Sin Yew (Kuala Lumpur)
- Nor Zabetha binti Muhamad Nor (Selangor)
- Rajpal Singh a/l Mukhtiar Singh (Dato Rajpal Singh) (Selangor)
- Shamsher Singh Thind (Dr. Shamsher Singh Thind) (Penang)
- Shanker a/l Kaliyana Sundaram (Shanker Sundaram) (Selangor)
- Sulaiman Abdullah (Sulaiman Abdullah Datuk Haji Sulaiman b. Abdullah) (Selangor)
- Tan Lay Ean (Honey Tan Lay Ean) (Kuala Lumpur)
- Tunku Farik bin Tunku Ismail (Tunku Farik) (Kuala Lumpur)
- Yasmeen bt Haji Mohd Shariff (Dato’ Yasmeen Shariff) (Kuala Lumpur and Perlis)
- Yong Li Hsien (Sarah Yong Li Hsien) (Kuala Lumpur)
The number of candidates this year is a notable decrease from a high of 38 candidates last year, and matches the number of candidates two years ago. From 2005 to 2021, there were between 13 and 38 contenders (in 2017 and 2021, respectively), with significant fluctuations from time to time.
For several years prior to 2021, 12 vacancies were available pursuant to section 47(2)(c) of the LPA. This was increased to 16 vacancies in 2021, which coincided with the highest number of candidates in the last 17 years.
Almost 21,130 Members of the Bar are currently eligible to cast their votes in this election. Members should receive their ballot papers by post from around 8 Nov 2022, and may vote for a maximum of 16 candidates.
The postal ballots must be returned to the Bar Council not later than 5:30 pm on 30 Nov 2022 (Wednesday). It is expected that the ballots be delivered to the election scrutineers on 1 Dec 2022 (Thursday), and the results be declared on the same day.
The term of the 42 current Bar Council members will expire at the next Annual General Meeting, to be held in March 2023.
Pursuant to the Resolution passed at the Malaysian Bar’s 55th Annual General Meeting held on 17 Mar 2001, each candidate nominated for election was asked to provide a brief write-up. To view the (unedited) write-ups, please click here to log into the Malaysian Bar website, and then click here to access Circular No 332/2022 dated 1 Nov 2022, entitled “Election to Bar Council 2023/2024”.
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1 The candidate's name as it appears in his/her Practising Certificate is stated first, followed by the candidate's preferred name (in parentheses), if the two names are different.
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