Lawyer Siti Kasim is one of the four new names in the new line-up following the Bar Council’s election for the 2017/2018 term. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 ― Five lawyers endorsed for allegedly supporting the “Malay-Muslim cause” have failed to be appointed into the Bar Council following its election for the 2017/2018 term.

There are only four new names in the new line-up, according to the results posted on the Malaysian Bar’s website yesterday: lawyers Siti Kasim (1,893 votes), HR Dipendra (1,781), Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab (1,506), and Ravin Singh (1,402).

The candidate with the most votes was incumbent member Hendon Mohamed (2,518).

Earlier last month, lawyer Aidil Khalid has endorsed five candidates for the election on the basis that they allegedly support the “Malay-Muslim cause”, but denied this was racist in nature.

Aidil, who is the campaign coordinator for the Concerned Lawyers for Justice (CLJ) group, said he did not mean that there were not enough Malays and Muslims in the Bar Council, but that their stand may not be in favour of Shariah laws.

The five listed were: Abu Daud Abd Rahim, Faidhur Rahman Abd Hadi, Kee Mohd Thariq K Zainal Abidin, Mohd Amir Sharil Bahari and Muhammad Faisal Moideen.

Out of the five, Amir had received the most votes at 1,335, followed by Faisal (1,211), and Abu Daud (1,134)

All three had denounced the list and denied championing such a cause.

A total of 17,394 ballots were issued but only 3,914 were considered valid out of the 3,939 returned.

There were 22 candidates in the running to be on the Bar Council for the 2017/2018 term, with voting through postal votes that was concluded by November 30.

The Bar Council manages the Malaysian Bar, that regulates lawyers in Peninsular Malaysia.

Yesterday, Wanita and Puteri Umno wings had suggested for the formation of a separate body equivalent to Bar Council but just for Shariah lawyers.