The government should not intervene in the management of the Malaysian Bar or other professional bodies in the country, de facto law minister Azalina Othman Said told the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was responding to Sivarasa Rasiah (PKR-Subang) who asked about Putrajaya's plan to embed itself into the Bar by proposing amendments to the Legal Profession Act (LPA) 1976.

"To me personally, I am of the same opinion as you," said the minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

"Rightfully, the professional bodies in the country, regardless if it's the Malaysian Bar, medical bodies, or engineering and many others, my personal view is that there is no need and it is not right to have a direct government intervention.

"As a former advocate, solicitor and a syariah lawyer, personally, I believe on the ground that there cannot be a direct intervention.

"As with the norm, professional bodies in the country must be regulated by its own members."

The proposed amendments to the LPA would allow the minister in charge of legal affairs to appoint two government representatives to the Bar Council.

The proposal also seeks to change the Bar Council’s election process and composition, and to increase the required quorum for the Bar’s general meetings.

When asked by Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) whether Azalina could assure government non-interference in the Bar, she replied in the negative.

"I cannot give you a guarantee now. I have to get the consensus of the cabinet ministers," she replied.