The KL Bar gets first woman head
Published on: Friday, February 24, 2017
Kuala Lumpur: Lawyer Goh Siu Lin became the first female to win the chairman post in the Kuala Lumpur Bar committee, besting two other contenders for the position.Outgoing KL Bar chairman Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal, better known as Ravin Singh, confirmed that Goh was elected to the position based on the results of the polls during the KL Bar's 25th annual general meeting (AGM).He said Goh is the "first female" in the Kuala Lumpur Bar's history to be voted into the position.
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Goh, who was serving as the KL Bar honorary secretary, had contended against outgoing KL Bar committee members Alex Anton Netto and Mohd Amir Sharil Bahari Md Noor or Amir Bahari for the position for the 2017/2018 term.In her manifesto, Goh, who is also the president of the Association of Women Lawyers, had pledged to ensure that her committee members are multiracial, multireligious, coming from both genders and are of varying seniority.Among other things, Goh had said she planned to form a new "Gender, Equity and Diversity" sub-committee to address the needs of women, disabled and indigenous lawyers and to also pursue the provision of dedicated parking lots at the Kuala Lumpur court complex for those who are disabled, pregnant or have health issues.In the days leading up to the KL Bar election today, Amir Bahari's campaign had garnered significant attention as he sought for support to increase diversity in the state Bar where Muslim lawyers were allegedly under-represented.
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Among other things, Amir Bahari promised to Islamise the KL Bar by discontinuing the serving of alcohol at its events, besides voicing support for a proposed legal amendment for harsher Shariah punishments and also pledged to organise open house events for all major festivities to provide members with networking opportunities.the total members who turned up for the event was 1,017, the highest in history" in terms of KL Bar AGM attendance figures. the KL Bar has around 7,000 members.
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the 10 lawyers voted in to the KL Bar committee are Alvin Oh Seong Yew, Atan Mustaffa, Chen Yu Szen, Foong Cheng Leong, Jacky Loi, Muhendaran Suppiah, New Sin Yew, Nik Elin Nik Rashid, Shashi Devan and Vivek Sukumaran.The election results means that the KL Bar will be sending "an all female team" to the Bar Council for the first time.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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