An academician has asked members of the Malaysian Bar who are active in national politics to leave the body administering the legal profession and form their own political party rather than continue to meddle in the country's administration.

"Those (lawyers) who want to be involved in politics, comment on (current) issues, should leave and form their own party," said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) deputy vice-chancellor (for student and alumni affairs) Noor Aziah Mohd Awal.

The UKM lecturer said this during a question-and-answer session at a forum discussing the challenge that unrestrained perception could pose to unity in Bangi today.

Aziah said the Malaysian Bar should return to its original role as the body that looks after the legal profession in Malaysia and not meddle in political and governmental affairs.

She said this must be done to avoid the Malaysia Bar from being seen as siding with any one side, as it may evoke the risk of conflict of interest.

"The Malaysian Bar is the body that issues licence to those who want to practise law. So they must preserve their integrity.

"Our children who want to become lawyers must be licensed by the Bar. Indeed, those who are already advocates and solicitors also require a licence to sign legal papers, for example.

"When the Bar evaluates something, in my opinion, it cannot interfere in politics," she said.

The Malaysian Bar has passed a motion at its 70th annual general meeting calling for the resignation of attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

The move, however, was countered by the Judicial and Legal Service Officer's Association, which passed a motion of its own to oppose the Bar's motion, contending that the Bar's move may be seen as questioning processes set forth in the federal constitution.