THE government must ensure local and medium-sized law firms and those in rural areas are not affected by the liberalisation of the legal service.
Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) hoped the government would set up a system which would allow local law firms to also get similar opportunitites from the move.
“We must remember the move will be good for national image and the economy but we do not want it to victimise rural small and medium-sized law firms.
“If this happens, the people will say the government is cruel. I hope the minister responsible has a system to ensure local firms have equal chance,” she said when debating the bill on the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2012 (Amendment) 2013 in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
She said the government must also give its assurance that there would be a transfer of technology, namely, the presence of foreign law firms in the country would benefit locals venturing into the legal sector.
“I accept if the move is going to be made because we are short of those more knowledgeable, but a transfer of technology system must exist, which is beneficial to the local people,” she said.
Azalina said if the amendment took place, it would be good for the nation but the capability of the small and medium firms should not be cast aside on the question of their seeking a livelihood.
“I urge the government to create a situation whereby, government-linked companies and banks in the country give them legal work.
“Don’t isolate them, because if you do so, indirectly, we are giving aid and focus to the big companies,” she noted.
Azalina also suggested that local universities create a specialisation for legal study to ensure the quality of graduates produced were on par with the current requirement.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri tabled the bill to the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2012 (Amendment) 2013 to liberalise 27 service sub-sectors by allowing 100 per cent foreign equity, effective immediately.
Nancy, who tabled the bill for second reading, said the legal service sector in peninsula Malaysia would be liberalised by allowing foreign lawyers to practise in Permitted Areas of Practice through International Partnership, Qualified Foreign Law Firms and the use of foreign lawyers by Malaysian legal firms.
She said foreign lawyers were allowed to enter Malaysia via fly-in, fly-out to give legal service not involving Malaysian laws, without having to register with the Malaysian Bar Council to practise in Permitted Areas of Practices through International Partnership, qualified foreign law firms and the use of foreign lawyers by Malaysian law firms, on condition the period of entry did not exceed 60 days.
“Based on the facts which I have highlighted, it is clear that the amendment is an apt move and in line with current needs.
“The amendment to Act A1444 specifically connected to liberalisation of the legal sector is crucial for Malaysia because it will bring lucrative returns in terms of finance, reputation and prestige in the eyes of the world,” she added. — Bernama