PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar tonight defended its Legal Aid Centre after an odd-job worker was only given RM1,193 of the RM10,000 awarded to her in a suit against the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Its president, Salim Bashir said any costs that are awarded by the court would be assigned back to the centre, which he added had been “clearly stipulated” in the letter of undertaking signed by their clients.
Such conditions, he added, are made aware in advance so that clients “understand their rights and responsibilities”.
“In the case of Madam Lam, she was indeed provided a letter of undertaking which she had duly signed and acknowledged the conditions therein,” he said in a statement, referring to Lam Kun Tai.
Earlier today, FMT reported that Lam had sought the help of the Bar Council’s Legal Aid Centre (LAC) when she had trouble making a claim with Socso.
The 54-year-old won her case and was awarded RM10,000 in costs but the Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Centre decided to give Lam only RM1,193 and retained the remainder.
Lam said she was not aware that the centre was entitled to keep the RM10,000 costs awarded to her.
Salim said the sum which the LAC had reimbursed her with were the expenses for photocopying and filing.
He went on to say that the costs received by the LAC is used to fund future legal aid matters.
He added that the lawyers who take on such cases do so on a “pro bono” basis where they do not receive any legal fees for their services.
“The public should rest assured that our policies are not meant to shortchange any of our clients, or for lawyers to earn a profit from undertaking legal aid cases.” - FMT
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