Malaysia legislation
Section 3
Section 3
(2)
A person appointed as a Director General under subsection (1)
shall have an academic qualification in the field of law recognized by the Government and shall have the practical skills, knowledge and experience in advocacy and litigation.
Legal Aid and Public Defence 13
(3)
The Director General shall devote the whole of his professional time as the Director General and while holding office shall not occupy any other office or employment whether remunerated or not.
(4)
The Director General shall have the general supervision and directions of all matters relating to legal aid and public defence services throughout Malaysia.
(5)
Notwithstanding any provision of written law to the contrary, the Director General, Deputy Directors General and every officer appointed under subsection (1) shall be entitled, for the purposes of this Act, to appear and plead in all courts in Malaysia.
(6)
For the purposes of this Act, every officer appointed under subsection (1) shall—
(a)
be subjected to the general supervision and directions of the Director General; and
(b)
have and exercise all the powers conferred on the Director
General under this Act other than the powers specifically conferred on the Director General in relation to—
(i)
the assignment of a panel of solicitors for civil and syariah proceedings; and
(ii)
the filing and handling of appeals under sections 33, 34 and 35.
(7)
The Director General, Deputy Directors General or any officer appointed under subsection (1) who is not a member of the public service, shall receive remuneration as determined by the Minister after consultation with the Minister of Finance.
(8)
Where the Director General is, for any reason, unable to perform his duties for any period or where the office of the
Director General becomes vacant, the most senior Deputy Director
General may exercise all powers and perform all duties of the
Director General.
14
Act 878
Appointment of Chief Public Defender and public defender officer