This was especially so with cases involving chambering pupils and junior lawyers who risk losing their jobs if they speak up, said PSM’s legal bureau chair Y Kohila.

The statement comes in the wake of a recent lawsuit filed by a young lawyer against her former legal firm in Kuala Lumpur alleging that a 44-year-old partner had sexually harassed her when she was under his supervision between 2018 and 2019.

Kohila expressed her disappointment over the lack of commitment from the Bar Council in addressing this issue since there had been numerous complaints of sexual harassment, mainly by young lawyers.

“The Malaysian Bar adopted the Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in 2005.

“However, no concrete action followed to ensure that law firms provided a safe working environment.

“To date, the Bar does not even have a proper mechanism to handle sexual harassment issues, nor any support system to help victims lodge complaints,” said Kohila.

She also called on the Bar to expedite the amendment of the Legal Profession Act 1976, where sexual harassment is categorised as misconduct.

She also wanted the code on sexual harassment to be made part of the Bar’s rules.

These steps, according to her, would enable the Bar to handle issues of sexual harassment effectively.

These will empower the victims to lodge complaints with the full confidence that the Bar Council will act without fear or favour to protect them.

“Without having the right law and rulings in place, the Bar’s commitment to sexual harassment in the legal fraternity is just lip service — similar to the government’s empty promises and lip service on the Sexual Harassment Act, which is long overdue,” she said.