KUCHING, Feb 16: A senior lawyer is appealing against the High Court’s decision to admit two non-Sarawakian retired judges to practise as resident advocates in Sarawak.
Voon Lee Shan, who is also the Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president, is seeking to intervene in the admission of two retired Federal Court judges, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Tan Sri David Wong. Richard and Wong are also former Chief Judges of Sabah and Sarawak.
“I have to intervene (in) the admission of these two retired judges, YAA Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and YAA Tan Sri David Wong and they are both Sabahans. Their admission to practise law in Sarawak had been granted by the High Court recently.
“I lost before the High Court and am now appealing against the decision of the High Court, inclusive of the heavy costs imposed against me before the Court of Appeal today in Kuching,” said Voon in a statement today.
He pointed out that non-Sarawakians who want to practise law in the State needs to fulfil all conditions required by law and this is a protection afforded by the Sarawak Advocates Ordinance and in the Federal Constitution and also under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 given to Sarawakians. He added he needed to protect the State from non-Sarawakians practising law here.
The law and Malaysia Agreement 1963, Voon asserted, are meant to prevent an influx of lawyers from outside Sarawak from practising law in Sarawak to protect the rice bowls of Sarawakian children in future.
“I am of the humble opinion that both of them (Richard and Wong) had not complied with the legal requirements to practise as resident lawyers in Sarawak. This led me to intervene against their application and admission to practise law here.
“I also feel that it is my duty to protect the interest of Sarawakians under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. I am thankful to my team of lawyers led by senior lawyers RJ Noel Esq and Lim Heng Choo Esq in representing me in this case,” said Voon. — DayakDaily
