KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kula Segaran has dismissed concerns that lawyers who graduate abroad may lack proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that based on his experience, these lawyers were typically fluent enough in BM to the point that they could conduct cross-examinations effectively.
Kula said Bahasa Malaysia was the mandatory language in Malaysian courts, with English used only in specific situations.
"So, it's not a problem. And if there are issues like this, in reality, clients will not give those cases (to the lawyers) because during cross-examination. In my own experience, you must be well-versed in the matter.
"If someone is not fluent, I'm not sure they can be a lawyer who can go to court," he said.
He was responding to Abdul Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun), who inquired about government efforts to strengthen Bahasa Malaysia proficiency among law graduates from overseas institutions.
He added that lawyers practising in Malaysia must be proficient in both Bahasa Malaysia and English due to most legal materials and international arbitration being in English, adding that they also need at least a credit in Bahasa Melayu in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia to practise.