| The main legal aid service in Malaysia is provided by the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) which is governed by the Legal Aid Act 1972. The Bar Council also provides similar service albeit a much smaller scale. A few NGOs do provide legal services but are usually confined to giving legal advice only. It has been observed that due to lack of funding and personnel, LAB’s services are plagued with problems such as delay, inefficiency and lacking in professionalism. The study is meant to evaluate the present scenario and to suggest solutions to the inadequacies and problems in the services. The present set up is far from satisfactory and the government will have to take drastic steps to improve the services. This includes giving more funding to boost the role of LAB and to change the law to allow a wider section of the population to enjoy the services. Otherwise, there will be a serious denial of access to justice in the country. Comparison will be drawn from various jurisdictions that include selected countries in Asia as well as Australia and the United Kingdom. |