Disgruntled over the management of several issues by the Malaysian Bar Council, several lawyers have formed a new body called Law Society to uphold and protect the rights of all practising and non-practising lawyers.

According to The Star today, Law Society founder Nordin Yusoff said the society, which has been officially registered under the Registrar of Societies, is not an alternative to the Bar Council, but a body to look after the rights and welfare of lawyers.

"Anyone with a law degree can be a member, not just practising lawyers.

"Some academicians and legal advisers have also come on board. A few cabinet ministers who hold law degrees have also approached us for membership forms," The Star quotes Nordin as saying. He goes on to claim that the society has 100 members now.

Nordin said the society would "assist lawyers who are tired of being bullied and treated unfairly by the Bar Council".

The society would also push for the amendment to Section 43 of the Legal Profession Act 1976 which states that every advocate and solicitor automatically becomes a member of the Malaysian Bar as long as he has a valid practising certificate.

"It should be up to each individual lawyer whether he or she wants to be a Bar member.

"Membership should not be automatic and compulsory," Nordin said.

It is not clear whether the society is related to the government's earlier proposal to set up a law academy , a new organisation to represent those who studied law.

'Misuse of power by Bar Council'

The Bar Council has objected strongly to the proposed organisation, saying it could usurp the functions of the council under the Legal Professions Act (LPA) 1976.

There has been friction between the Bar Council and the government in recent years, with the professional body openly protested against several legislation passed by the government, such as the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the inclusion of a new Section 114A into the Evidence Act 1950 and the government's high-handed clampdown on street rallies.

Another English daily, New Straits Times , quoted Nordin as saying that the setting up of the Law Society was motivated by problems faced with the Bar Council's disciplinary board.

Nordin said the society members were unhappy with the removal of judicial review rights for lawyers and the lack of a formal syllabus for chambering students.

"There has been misuse of power within the disciplinary board of the Bar Council, and the Law Society is for lawyers who were victims of this," said Nordin, claiming that the Bar Council had been penalising lawyers instead of protecting them.

"We are not allowed to question the decisions of the disciplinary board, and I do not think this is fair. Where are our rights as lawyers?"

According to the New Straits Times report, Nordin also claimed the society to be apolitical.