KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — The Malaysian Bar and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia will establish a Legal Aid Scheme for Indonesian citizens, known as the Indonesian Citizens’ Legal Aid Scheme (I-CLAS), as an initiative to ensure Indonesians in Malaysia have access to legal representation.
Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said the scheme will serve as a pilot programme throughout 2025, involving three legal aid centres before being expanded nationwide.
“It is crucial in every democratic society that access to justice is not just an abstract concept but a reality for everyone, regardless of geographic, economic, or educational barriers,” he said in a statement today.
I-CLAS aims to provide legal aid services in various fields, including criminal law, immigration, labour, family, and Syariah law, while also educating the Indonesian community about Malaysian law and their rights.
“This collaboration between the Malaysian Bar and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur is supported by a sustainable funding model, to ensure that pro bono lawyers are not burdened with financial costs when they handle criminal and immigration cases,” Ezri said.
He added that he welcomed the Indonesian Embassy’s efforts to improve access to justice for its citizens in Malaysia and hoped more embassies and other diplomatic missions would follow suit to ensure better access to justice for all foreign communities in the country.
“I-CLAS reflects the Malaysian Bar’s commitment to continue to fight for justice without discrimination and uphold the principle of justice for all.
“In our effort to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is a right and not a privilege, the Malaysian Bar hopes that I-CLAS will be successfully implemented,” Ezri said.
— Bernama
