Dewan Rakyat tables first reading of Rukun Tetangga and Legal Profession amendment bills, focusing on citizenship and board governance
KUALA LUMPUR: The Rukun Tetangga (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Legal Profession (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2025 were tabled for their first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang tabled the Rukun Tetangga amendments, while Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) M. Kulasegaran presented the Legal Profession amendments.
The second reading for both bills is scheduled during the current parliamentary sitting.
The Rukun Tetangga amendments introduce a new definition of “person who has interest” to clarify criteria for involvement in a Rukun Tetangga Area.
It also removes the term “permanent resident” from paragraph 7(3)(d) to specify that only citizens can be appointed to the Rukun Tetangga Area Committee.
Furthermore, subsection 17(1) is amended to state that only citizen residents or persons with an interest in the area can apply for the Voluntary Patrolling Scheme.
Meanwhile, the Legal Profession Act amendments clarify the Legal Profession Qualifying Board’s status as a corporate body with legal capacity under Section 4.
A proposed new section 7A empowers the minister to revoke the appointment of board members they appointed and allows those members to resign.
Another proposed section, 7C, states that board members shall receive allowances and benefits determined by the board and approved by the minister. – Bernama
