KUALA LUMPUR: A deputy minister has backed a government lawmaker’s call for the Legal Profession Qualifying Board’s accounts to be tabled in Parliament.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran also highlighted the absence of any instances in the Legal Profession Act 1976 requiring the board to report its finances.
“I was taken aback.
“This has to be fine-tuned and perhaps amended so reports are not only made to the board but also to Parliament.
“This way, we know how much was received and spent. Now, it seems only the board knows,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 10).
Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) had urged that the board's accounts be presented in Parliament.
Cha had earlier asked for the total amount collected in certificate in legal practice (CLP)registration fees and administrative costs spent since 1984.
Kulasegaran replied that more than RM37mil in CLP fees have been collected since 2017.
Administrative costs for the CLP, meanwhile, amounted to RM5,355,174.60 between 2017 and last year, he added.
This comprises preparing the examination syllabus, examination papers, moderators, examination costs and invigilators, among others.
“Administrative costs however do not cover the board’s operational costs such as wages and employer contributions, utilities, medical benefits, legal fees and more,” Kulasegaran said.
Cha then questioned why the figures were only from 2017 when he had asked for records dating back to 1984.
“Please explain why the figures are only from the past seven years and have the board's accounts ever been tabled?” Cha asked.
Kulasegaran said the figures cited were those provided by the board, and said he too had asked for records dating back to 1984.
“We had discussions these past two days and I was made to understand there are no figures (available).
“I was taken aback and called for a report and investigation to be carried out so we will know the figures,” he said.
