Bar Council is holding their council members election during the month of November 2008. As mentioned in our previous post, the voting rate was always unsatisfactory.

eLawyer, as an online law portal wishes to contribute our small bit by providing a space at our law blog to allow the candidates who are running for the council members’ election to introduce themselve and shout out their manifesto so that the voters will get to know them better.

In addition to creating awaraness amongst the existing members of Malaysian Bar, we also hope such awareness can be created amongst the future members of the Bar i.e. law students.

We are glad to receive the first election statement from one of the running candidate Mr Colin Pereira.

I am offering myself as a candidate for election to the Bar Council, having served the Bar in the following capacities:

2008/09: Deputy Chair Professional Standards and Development Committee, Bar Council

2007/08: Deputy Chair Professional Standards and Development Committee, Bar Council

2006/07: Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, KLBC

2004/05: Chair, Social and Pupil’s Welfare Committee, KLBC

2003/04: Chair, Social and Welfare Committee, KLBC

2002/03: Chair, Social Committee, KLBC

2001/02: Chair, Social Committee, KLBC

There are two issues which I care passionately about, which are, improving our skills as lawyers and alleviating the problems we face in our practice. I have done my best during the last 3 years to organise as many professional development programs for lawyers. However, one area in which I believe the Bar has failed, is in its dealings with the judiciary. It has, on many occasions, compromised our interest when dealing with the judiciary resulting in great hardship for many lawyers in our day to day practice. We are accorded little respect by the judiciary whilst those who purport to represent our interests appear to be more focused on organising social events with the judges. For many of us, who do not have the benefit of a large firm behind us, we rely on the Bar to defend our interests. Those of us who have had to deal with registry clerks and have been given the run around will appreciate my concerns. We are professionals and ought to be treated as such.

I do believe that all the candidates have a contribution to make. I will not therefore ask you to vote for me specifically as opposed to the other candidates. My concern is that the majority of lawyers do not vote at all. My appeal to members is that whoever you decide to vote for, please take some time to vote and return the ballot papers.

And, if I myself am not successful, my hope is that my message will be heard by the winning candidates.

~By Mr. Colin Pereira~

P/S: For other candidates, please do not hesitate to email your election ststement to us at sarah@elawyer.com.my