PUTRAJAYA: The government has approved a grant of RM7 million to the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) this year for lawyers to represent those in need in criminal cases, said Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.
Idrus said this is an illustration of the government's continuous commitment and willingness to acknowledge legal aid services to ensure equal access to justice for those in need of legal redress.
"On the robust partnership between the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), the Bar Council and other members of the legal fraternity through YBGK, as the chairman of YBGK, I am glad to announce that over the years, the number of services provided by YBGK has tremendously grown from 91,544 in 2013 to 215,990 in 2020.
"This growth resulted in an increase in YBGK's expenses from approximately RM2 million in 2013 to RM9.1 million in 2020. Consequently, the government has also raised the grant given to YBGK to cover those expenses. The total amount received by YBGK since its inception is RM58,089,200," he said in his speech at the opening of the Legal Year 2022 here, today.
Meanwhile, Idrus said these past two years had witnessed the three components in the administration of justice - the Judiciary, the AGC and the Bar, working together to overcome the unforeseeable challenges brought about by the pandemic.
He said the three components in the administration of justice indeed echo the same aspiration, desire and vision to uphold the rule of law and to maintain integrity of the legal profession whilst embracing the new normal.
"I do not wish to see a decline in public confidence in any of these three components, as the public views us as interrelated and not distinct.
"Hence, the Judiciary, the AGC and the Bar must come together with one vision and one aim, and join hands to create a conducive working environment towards attaining justice in these trying times," he said.
Idrus said in addition to the COVID-related legal work, they (AGC) kept the legal machinery running in a relatively different operating environment.
"We never abandoned our core work. It is by no means an easy feat. At this point, allow me to quote Sir Francis Bacon, the Attorney General of England in the 17th century, who described the duties of my office as "the painfullest task in the realm". This saying holds true, especially in these trying times.
"I am indeed humbled and heartened to witness my officers who have had painstakingly braced the challenging situation and ensured that work continued in innovative ways.
"They were quick to adapt. Remote hearings, appeals, meetings and even international conferences and negotiations were conducted via various online platforms almost seamlessly," he said.
At the same event, president of Malaysian Bar AG Kalidas in his speech said the Bar had also engaged with the authorities regarding the continued access to legal services during the 'Lockdown Period' in mid-2021.
He said the Bar made firm representations that lawyers be allowed to continue providing their services, and be able to effectively represent their clients.
"As the criminal justice system continues to function, equally, lawyers must be able to do so as well. Further, in the case of our YBGK lawyers, they are called to represent the accused in court.
"Without the YBGK lawyers, these persons will likely go unrepresented as they have no other means to obtain legal representation," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Jan 14 2022
Idrus said this is an illustration of the government's continuous commitment and willingness to acknowledge legal aid services to ensure equal access to justice for those in need of legal redress. - BERNAMA
Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau
Daripada keluasan itu, sebanyak 977.55 hektar tanah telah diwartakan, manakala 1,416.24 hektar tanah lapang yang berpotensi akan dan sedang dalam proses diwartakan.
Guna jawatan untuk projek pembekalan, suami isteri ditahan
Sepasang suami isteri direman enam hari dalam siasatan penyalahgunaan jawatan untuk mendapatkan projek pembekalan bernilai lebih RM200,000.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
DBKL ubah lalu lintas Jalan Sultan Ismail bermula 22 Julai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan melaksanakan perubahan lalu lintas di Jalan Sultan Ismail berkuat kuasa 22 Julai ini.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
[TERKINI] Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka kembali teguh
Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka teguh sepanjang tahun ini, demikian menurut BMI, iaitu syarikat Fitch Solitions.
Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM
Anggota berusia 26 tahun terbabit bertugas di Balai Polis Slim River di bawah Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Muallim dengan pangkat lans koperal.
Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta
Seorang perunding pelaburan mengaku tidak bersalah atas empat pertuduhan pengubahan wang haram berjumlah hampir RM1 juta.
Purata suhu meningkat 0.24 darjah celcius per dekad
Berdasarkan rekod dari tahun 1969 hingga 2019, purata suhu bulanan di Semenanjung Malaysia pada bulan Mei 2024 adalah 28.8 darjah celcius manakala purata suhu bulanan pada bulan Mei 1974 iaitu 50 tahun yang lalu adalah 26.6 darjah celcius.
ADUN dari kerajaan perpaduan sertai Pas
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata perkara itu sudah berlaku ketika zaman pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lagi.