Vaccination: Malaysian Bar urges govt to prioritise legal profession

 

Putrajaya has been urged to prioritise the legal profession for the Covid-19 vaccination programme because the legal system plays a major role in society and the economy.

In a statement today, Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas (above) said there was a need to strengthen the effectiveness of the legal system due to the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"As early as the end of March, the Bar had written to the relevant government authorities to seek for early vaccination of lawyers, the judiciary and those in the judicial and legal services.

"We must be able to carry out our duties and responsibilities unhindered by the constraints caused by the pandemic, in order to allow justice to be delivered swiftly and properly," he said.

Kalidas said this was particularly true for those involved in the criminal justice system.

For instance, he said, lawyers who provide legal representation to the accused who are detained in prison or detention centres may face a higher risk of contracting Covid-19.

"Judges and judicial and legal officers also face a heightened risk of contracting the virus due to the front-facing nature of their jobs," he added.

There are also lawyers who work closely with government agencies such as the Land Office, Inland Revenue Board, Companies Commission, among others, and hence play an important role in the economy.

"The Malaysian Bar, therefore, urges the government to consider allowing those in the legal profession, the judiciary, and the judicial and legal services to be vaccinated soon, in order to safeguard the rights of Malaysians during these tumultuous times," Kalidas said.

Under the current movement control order rules, courts are operating as usual, although some courts conduct their proceedings online. - Mkini