The Bar Council wants Bank Negara and the government to be more transparent in the proposed scheme on basic motor insurance coverage for third party bodily injury and death.

The 593 members who attended the Bar's 64th annual general meeting (AGM) today, unanimously passed the motion.

They also urged the government to engage the opinions of various stakeholders, especially the public and non-govermental organisations, before coming up with the scheme.

bar council suhakam memo 5 detained lawyers incident 200509 ragunath Council chairman Ragunath Kesavan said the Bar was concerned with the proposed scheme.

He said that if it was implemented, the scheme would adversely alter the landscape of the motor insurance scheme, to the detriment of motor accident victims, as well as their families and dependants.

He claimed that the Civil Law (Amendment) Act 1984 had also limited the quantum of claims for personal injury.

"Bank Negara should engage the opinions of various stakeholders as now, only the view points of insurance companies were sought in the matter," he told reporters after the AGM.

National legal foundation

Ragunath said today's meeting also agreed on the need to set up a national legal foundation by this year, to provide legal aid, especially for those who could not afford.

Currently, those who cannot afford counsel could apply to the Legal Aid Centre which was managed by the council, via an annual RM100 contribution from each of its members.

Ragunath said the foundation had received positive response from the government, and the start-up capital was expected to be about RM10 million.

Should it materialise, the foundation would be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, he added.

He said the council was embarking on a constitutional law campaign via roadshows, forums and talks begining next month, to educate the masses on the Federal Constitution.

- Bernama