Kula was responding to Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah), who asked why the board’s accounts had never been presented and what steps were being taken to remedy the situation.
“Your complaint is valid. I request that an investigation be conducted and a report (on the board’s finances) be done so that the matter can be disclosed,” Kula said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He also described as “puzzling” the silence of the Legal Profession Act (LPA) on any provision requiring the LPQB to report its finances.
“If you check the LPA, it is very shocking. Lawyers have drafted it, but perhaps it needs to be reviewed and amendments made so that the body’s finances are not only reported to the board but also to Parliament.
“This way, we would know how much money the LPQB receives and how much is spent, given that it is the only body managing the exam,” he said.
Kula told the Dewan Rakyat earlier that from 2017 to 2024, the board had received over RM37 million in registration fees from CLP applicants.
The board’s administrative costs, which included the preparation of the exam syllabus, question papers, translation work, printing, and exam hall rental from 2017 to 2023, amounted to RM5,355,174.60.
He said these costs were exclusive of other operating expenses such as staff salaries and contributions, office lot rentals, utility bills and staff medical benefits.
In response, Cha asked why only the figures for 2017 until 2024 were disclosed when his initial question was for the numbers from 1984 – the year the LPQB was established.
Kula said he had asked the board for the figures but was told that the data was “non-existent”.
Separately, Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) highlighted the case of a 52-year-old man who was denied the opportunity to sit for the CLP after the High Court ruled that he had failed to meet the prescribed qualifications to practise law in Malaysia.
FMT previously reported that A Suresh Kumar’s application was rejected by the LPQB after he secured a “compensated pass” in property/land law from a UK-based university. Suresh is appealing the matter to the Court of Appeal.
“What is the role of the government in ensuring a balance between the requirements under the law and mercy to such students who obtained their degrees overseas?” Takiyuddin asked.
Kula said Suresh’s case could be reviewed, but stressed the need for CLP students to attain good marks so that they can properly discharge their duties as lawyers.