Anand Raj has been elected as the new president of the Malaysian Bar for the 2026/2027 term following the Bar Council’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place in Kuala Lumpur. Succeeding Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab, who previously held the position. Alongside Anand, Murshidah Mustafa was elected as vice president, R. Jayabalan as secretary and Peter-Douglas Ling as the treasurer
Speaking at the press conference after the AGM, Anand said the newly elected leadership represents continuity within the council, as several members had stepped up from their previous roles.
Anand has also highlighted Ling’s appointment as a treasurer, noting that his background in both law and accounting would bring valuable expertise to the council.
“The council saw fit to elect Peter-Douglas Ling, who has a background in accounts as well as law, to the post of treasurer,” he added.
During the AGM, members also discussed and voted on several motions. A total of 9 out of 11 motions tables were passed, with 433 members attending the meeting. Among the motions adopted was one reaffirming the Malaysian Bar’s long-standing position that the roles of the Attorney-General and the Public Prosecutor should be separated to ensure independence within the justice system.
Anand explained that separation as such would help to strengthen the public’s confidence in the legal system and has already been implemented successfully in several other countries. He however, noted that while the Bar supports the principle of separating the two roles, it believes the current bill does not go far enough in ensuring accountability and transparency.
He has also added that the Bar Council will continue to uphold the values of the legal profession and speak “without fear or favor” while advocating reforms that strengthen the rule of law.
Sources: NST
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