Law Minister Azalina Othman Said should engage with the Bar Council over the proposals to amend the Legal Professions Act 1976 (LPA), said Gerakan Youth deputy chief Andy Yong.

This is after Azalina defended the proposed amendments to the LPA, which was criticised for allegedly eroding the Malaysian Bar's independence.

“I strongly urge Azalina to have a serious dialogue with the Bar Council on their proposed amendments to the LPA. It is understood that there would be seven amendments to the LPA,” Yong told Malaysiakini.

Yong, a lawyer, said he personally disagreed with all but one of the proposed amendments  ̶  direct election of office-bearers, which he said showed transparency and was a true democratic practice.

“Members of the Bar are professionals, matured and well-informed of who are qualified.

"So the grounds given by Bar Council over its fears that people with little or no experience being elected to lead doesn't carry water,” he said.

“The Malaysian Bar should be a self-governing body and independent. It must also be seen as an independent body," he added.

In her defence of the proposed amendments, Azalina said yesterday that allegations they were to allow the government to interfere in the Bar Council were inaccurate.

"These statements also show a certain immaturity and lack of respect for the legislative system in the country," Azalina said in a statement.

She said the amendments were still being drafted and it was unfair for outsiders to interfere by issuing statements on the matter.

The proposed amendments include having the government appoint two members of the Bar to sit on the Bar Council.

It also sets the quorum for all general meetings of the Malaysian Bar and state Bar at 25 per cent of the members.

Two divisions of elected members are to be created, there will be direct elections for positions, and the de facto law minister is allowed to determine electoral rules and regulations, according to the proposed amendments.