Our LoyarBorak #2, Part 1 and Part 2, prompted a fierce exchange of views, both in the comments on the article and on Twitter. The perceived negativity of all the comments led to this spirited defence of the Bar Council by one of its members through a series of Tweets, posing pertinent questions to the naysayers. Those tweets are now repackaged, and presented as a riposte to the LoyarBurokkers! Let us have your reactions as well.
Brendan Navin Siva
I have no problem accepting criticism that we do not do enough and can do much more.
But I have a problem with those who say we do nothing and are useless. That would be a gross misstatement of the facts.
Who helped members of the Bar avert the proposed BNM motor vehicle insurance scheme?
Who ensures a minimum level of competence for all law students entering the profession from many different avenues?
Who has to pick up the slack when UUM and MMU do not have a good enough law degree?
Who is pushing for the common bar course amidst opposition from some local universities?
Who is discussing and debating the pros and cons of conditional fees and limited liability partnerships?
Who proposed and drafted the compendium of awards for personal injury to streamline court awards?
Press release machine? Who else is to bring attention to those issues we issue press releases about?
Who holds watching briefs at all major cases?
Who runs to Parliament house to brief members of Parliament about the impact of proposed Bills?
Who stands up for the Orang Asal/ Orang Asli?
The last president was much better? Who was in BC during her time – a whole different set of people?
Rubbing shoulders with CJ? We go there and fight for lawyers as hard as we can and you say we are benefiting ourselves?
You know we are dealing with people hell bent on disposing cases fast and you think it is our fault if we fail to stop every one of them?
You think the idea for the admiralty court and IP court fell from the sky?
You think suddenly a practice direction on mediation appeared out of nowhere?
You think because we cannot solve the trend of murdered lawyers in Penang that we are not trying?
Who do you think offered every assistance to the 5 legal aid lawyers? Their next step is to sue personally and we are supporting.
When we ask for feedback on the proposed conditional fees, LLP Bill, awards compendium, rules changes: how many members respond?
Problem – Too many good lawyers walk away from serving the Bar.
Problem – We can do much more if more of us get involved and serve the Bar rather than imputing on us all kinds of untruths.
Problem – You ridicule and call us politicians when we try our best to serve the Bar.
Solution – Please help us do more. You have the expertise and knowledge. Why am i learning your area of law to help you? Because I want to.
Solution – Help us get members interested in serving rather than taking them further away from us by saying we don’t care.
Problem – Some say we don’t do enough for human rights and some say we don’t do enough for lawyers. We are trying on all fronts.
Every year I am elected I try to do better. I try to do more.
I remember a time when all we did was fight with each other. Dark side, Good side. My side, Your side. Real ballot, Forged Ballot.
And you think we do less now than we did then?
Brendan Navin Siva is serving his 2nd term as the Kuala Lumpur Bar’s Representative to the Bar Council. He’s very chuffed that Australia are beating the Pommies at the Ashes, and when not attending to work or to Bar Council or KL Bar affairs can be found in Chawan, Nirvana, Baskin Robbins Telawi or the Appam shop in Lucky Garden. He tweets at @brendansiva
Brendan Navin Siva is presently the Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar and a member of the Bar Council. He tweets at @brendansiva.
Posted on 29 November 2010. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
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