KUCHING: The draft of the Legal Profession Bill 2019 (LPA Bill) that went viral in the social media is to test Sarawak’s legal capacity, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
Rejection of the LPA Bill by Sarawakians at large and the state’s legal fraternity shows that we are up to the challenge, said Masing.
“They are trying to see whether we understand our legal rights, whereas we all know that our lawyers are well-versed and equally good.
“It is just that the way we do things is different. The West Malaysian lawyers are more aggressive while Sarawakian lawyers have a more gentle approach,” Masing told reporters this after attending Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) pre-council meeting at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters yesterday.
The pre-council meeting was held in conjunction with the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting which starts this morning.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president stressed the need for GPS to maintain and control the DUN, to prevent attempts to usurp the powers of the state in safeguarding its rights as enshrined in the State Constitution.
“The Federal government can pass laws having direct bearing on Sarawak in Parliament, but we have the control here. They must get the consent of the Sarawak DUN before such laws can be enforced,” he pointed out.
Masing, who is the Baleh assemblyman, said most importantly, regardless of their political affiliations, Sarawakians must put the interest of the state above all.
