A mobile application that provides the ‘know-how’ to prepare standard legal documents will help increase the public’s access to law.
Lawyer Edmund Bon said the pro bono project by his firm is mainly aimed at educating Malaysians, to empower them in carrying out ‘simple’ litigation and contractual agreements.
“If you look at jurisdictions around the world, these legal frameworks are already out there. The ideas I’m talking about here are not new.
"However, in Malaysia, we don’t have a solid platform to move these ideas yet,” said Bon, when met at the International Malaysia Law Conference in Kuala Lumpur Thursday.
The application to be developed by Omesti Group include templates of legal documents widely used such as sales and purchase (S&P) agreements, wills, divorce petitions, probates as well as bail applications and mitigation in criminal cases, which will also be made available on web when it is launched next year.
The initiative, while good-intentioned received less favourable response from some lawyers, he admitted.
“From the feedback I’ve received, lawyers are concerned because some of these transactions may not be so straightforward. Those are valid concerns and we will deal with it.
“There will of course be resistance. This initiative is pushing the boundaries,” he said, adding that the project has however received numerous public support.
Meanwhile, lawyer Azhar Azizan Harun or known as Art Harun, though welcomed Bon’s idea said the initiative will be effective with the agreement from stakeholders.
“It's a good suggestion but that entails liberalisation. We have to look at the system first whether or not it will accept documents which are not prepared by lawyers.”
“Let’s take S&P as example. Will the stakeholders – which are the banks and land offices –accept documentations not certified by lawyers? If they are willing, then we can go about doing it.”
“We may pass a law for loans below one million ringgit that can just use these S&P templates without lawyers’ certification,” Harun suggested “It all depends on the stakeholders.”
Both Bon and Harun were panelists at the three-day conference themed ‘Reshaping the Legal Profession, Reforming the Law.’
Touching on the theme, Bon, who is well known as a human rights lawyer and activist called for a change in ‘firm culture’.
He feels that at present, there is a lack of initiative from lawyers to undertake pro bono work.
“The argument (from firms) has always been that they have no time to do pro bono, or they lose money by doing it.”
“It is not true at all. They will still be able to survive,” said the 40-year-old who has a law practitioner since 1998.
“I suggest law firms demand their lawyers to do five pro bono cases per year. Now, they are done based on voluntary basis.”
Meanwhile, another panelist High Court judge Justice Lee Swee Seng said legal counsels should be made as accessible to the public.
“I think we should make law more affordable to the people. It will be a sad day if a person who has legal grievances (can’t access to counsel) because of cost factor.”
“There’s always a place got lawyers to do pro bono work to uphold justice without fear or favour,” he said.
Cynthia Ng
Thu Sep 25 2014
![Mobile app to increase awareness and access to justice among Malaysians Mobile app to increase awareness and access to justice among Malaysians](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-02/41359974190_295x200.jpg)
The pro bono project initiated by Bon's firm is firstly aimed at educating Malaysians to empower them in carrying out simple litigation and contractual agreements. - File Photo
AWANI 7:45 [16/07/2024] - Suspek dibawa ke lokasi | Selamat tinggal rakyat Malaysia | Harimau Malaya hilang taring?
- Polis sahkan suspek bunuh Kartini anggota polis.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
![E-sukan harus dijadikan kepentingan sehingga ke peringkat lebih tinggi E-sukan harus dijadikan kepentingan sehingga ke peringkat lebih tinggi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721128633_MohdHidayatMohdSa.jpg)
E-sukan harus dijadikan kepentingan sehingga ke peringkat lebih tinggi
Kerajaan juga harus wujudkan sebuah dasar yang jelas supaya kepentingan e-sukan ini mampu diperkembangkan ke masa hadapan.
![Kerajaan pandang serius penularan ideologi liberalism, pluralism Kerajaan pandang serius penularan ideologi liberalism, pluralism](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721122322_ZulkifliHasan.jpg)
Kerajaan pandang serius penularan ideologi liberalism, pluralism
Kerajaan sentiasa memandang serius terhadap penularan ideologi dan aliran pemikiran yang bercanggah dengan ajaran Islam seperti ideologi liberalism dan pluralism agama.
![Tidak dapat tidak, atlet RTG mesti bawa pulang emas - MOM Tidak dapat tidak, atlet RTG mesti bawa pulang emas - MOM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710754100_MohdNazifuddinNaji.jpg)
Tidak dapat tidak, atlet RTG mesti bawa pulang emas - MOM
Atlet di bawah projek Road To Gold (RTG) tidak mempunyai pilihan selain memenangi emas yang diidam-idamkan Malaysia pada Sukan Olimpik 2024 di Paris.
![KEDA peruntuk RM3.37 juta tahun ini bagi keterjaminan makanan KEDA peruntuk RM3.37 juta tahun ini bagi keterjaminan makanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/41693913999_RubiahWang.jpg)
KEDA peruntuk RM3.37 juta tahun ini bagi keterjaminan makanan
Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) memperuntukkan RM3.37 juta pada tahun ini bagi memastikan keterjaminan makanan negara.
![Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721021538_TBSHAMSUL.jpg)
Dewan Rakyat lulus RUU Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia
Rang Undang-Undang Agensi Kawalan dan Perlindungan Sempadan Malaysia 2024 yang bertujuan menubuhkan MCBA diluluskan persidangan Dewan Rakyat, hari ini.
![PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024 PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710922383_MasErmieyatiSamsud.jpg)
PAC akan mulakan prosiding isu dibangkit LKAN Siri 2/2024
Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) akan memulakan prosiding bagi empat isu yang dibangkitkan dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN) Siri 2/2024.
AWANI Ringkas: Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini | Skandal LCS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Chong Zhemin, tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.