KUALA LUMPUR – The Bar Council has urged Putrajaya to prioritise those in the legal profession including lawyers, the judiciary and those working in judicial and legal services for Covid-19 vaccination.
In a press statement today, its president A.G. Kalidas argued that lawyers who are involved in the criminal justice system are vulnerable to the virus as they have to attend to prisoners whose living conditions can be breeding grounds for the virus.
“This is particularly true for those who are involved in the criminal justice system.
“Lawyers who provide legal representation to accused individuals who are brought in from prison or detention centres may face a higher risk of contracting the virus.
“This is due to the living conditions of inmates, which may be a hotbed for transmission.
“Judges, as well as judicial and legal officers, also face a heightened risk of contracting the virus due to the front-facing nature of their jobs.
“Lawyers also work closely with other agencies such as land offices, the Inland Revenue Board, Companies Commission of Malaysia, and various government and local authorities, and have an indispensable role to play in the economy of the country,” said Kalidas.
He added that in March this year, the Bar had already written to relevant government authorities to seek early vaccination for lawyers, the judiciary and those working in judicial and legal services. – The Vibes, May 24, 2021
