NLAF provides legal assistance in criminal matters including Syariah criminal matters to all Malaysian at the stage of arrest, remand and bail application. The means test will only be conducted for the purpose of determining who is eligible for legal representation at the trial stage. Offences that carry the death penalty will not be covered by the NLAF for the time being as the court already provides assigned counsel to persons charged for such offences.
NLAF operates throughout Malaysia. However, for Sabah and Sarawak taking into consideration of human resource factors, it operates only in Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Penampang and Tuaran and in Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu respectively.
For Peninsular Malaysia, NLAF operates through Legal Aid Centre under the Malaysian Bar, whilst for Sabah, Sarawak and Federal Territory of Labuan, NLAF operates through Legal Aid Department and works closely with Sabah Law Association and Advocates Association of Sarawak.
NLAF can be reached at toll free line no. 1-800-88-9245. All calls are connected to NLAF operation centre throughout Malaysia.
Legal aid and advice in criminal matters will be given to all Malaysian citizens during the following stages: arrest, remand hearing, charge and bail application. In order to receive representation at the hearing stage the accused person must satisfy the means test. Those who qualify to receive legal aid at the hearing stage are those who’s earning:
Depending on the means test, those accused of all types of criminal offences can qualify to receive legal aid, except those who are charged with capital offences.
You will not be charged anything if you earn less than RM 25,000 per annum. However, if your annual income exceeds RM 25,000 but does not exceed RM 36,000, you will be charged certain rates that will be determined by the NLAF’s Board of Directors.
No, you may not. The lawyer representing you will come from a panel set up by the NLAF and the allocation process will be based on a standard operating procedure determined by the NLAF.