PARLIAMENT | The government plans to seek public opinion on its proposed amendment to the Legal Profession Act (LPA) 1976, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said.

The process will be done through public online consultation, she told the Dewan Rakyat during the minister's question time.

The consultation was agreed to on Oct 24 by a focus group of the special committee set up to fine tune the proposed amendment to the LPA.

The government was currently getting input from the legal fraternity, universities and other stakeholders for that purpose, she said. 

Azalina hoped a comprehensive amendment of the LPA could be ready by next year.

"We hope that after comprehensive discussions, we can come up with proposed amendments, which will be accepted not only by lawyers but by all stakeholders," she added.

In May 2016, the government proposed to include two members of the Bar into the Bar Council, who will represent the government.

The two government representatives will not be eligible to contest positions as office bearers in the Bar Council, namely as president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer.

However, this was perceived as a threat against the independence of the Bar.

Other proposed amendments included the quorum needed for a general meeting to be increased from 500 members to 4,000 members or 25 percent of the Malaysian Bar's 17,000 membership, whichever is lower.