GEORGE TOWN: The income threshold to qualify for free legal aid under the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) should be reviewed to reflect the rising cost of living in urban areas, says Penang Bar Council’s Legal Aid Centre chairman Arif Shaharuddin.
Arif said the current annual income ceiling of RM36,000 – or RM3,000 a month – is too low and excludes many individuals who still struggle to afford legal representation, particularly in cities like Kuala Lumpur where living expenses are high.
“I think if you earn around RM3,500 per month and you get caught and are charged (for any crime), you probably won’t be able to afford a lawyer,” he said at the Malaysian Legal Aid Convention 2025 today.