KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) has announced an increase of RM10mil in the allocation for the National Legal Aid Foundation.
The Prime Minister said the allocation would help the poor who are unable to afford legal representation.
"Most cases are postponed as they are not able to defend themselves.
"Many do not have the financial means to hire a lawyer," Anwar told reporters after the opening of the International Malaysia Law Conference on Monday (July 10).
In his speech earlier, Anwar said the law would be useless if the man in the street lacked access to justice.
"With regard to the rule of law, it cannot be viewed purely from the prism of theoretical jurisprudence, for such a principle cannot be realised if the man in the street or those lacking the economic resources are unable to access the halls of justice.
"I applaud the Malaysian Bar for their valiant efforts in providing legal aid via a scheme established more than 40 years ago.
"While in Sungai Buloh, I saw hundreds of prisoners who were given the chance to defend themselves fairly in a trial (thanks to the foundation).
"As such, I announce an increase of RM10mil for legal aid," the Prime Minister said to cheers from participants.
Anwar had previously announced under Budget 2023 an increase in legal aid from RM30,000 to RM50,000.
Earlier in her welcoming speech, Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah said some two million accused persons had benefited from free legal aid between April 2012 till June 2023 through YBGK.
