The Selangor state government has launched a Dana Bantuan Guaman, and people who need to file a lawsuit can receive a legal fee subsidy ranging from RM1500 to RM2000.
In the Selangor Budget for 2022, the Selangor State Government allocated RM1 million to establish the Selangor Legal Aid Fund (Dana Bantuan Guaman). The purpose of this fund is to assist disadvantaged groups in the state to achieve justice and realize the value of “all people are equal before the law.” This plan gives priority to helping B40 low-income groups.
This plan will cooperate with the Selangor State Bar Association and Selangor State Legal Aid Center to solve the injustices encountered by disadvantaged groups in the workplace and life, including unemployment or workplace violence. This legal aid fund will provide individuals or groups seeking legal support with a legal fee subsidy of RM1500 or RM2000 respectively.
The legal aid fund application conditions include that the applicant must be born or settled in Selangor for at least 10 years and have a family income of less than RM2300. Once the application is approved, the individual will receive a subsidy of RM1500 for legal fees, and the group will receive a subsidy of RM2000 (such as the group’s unemployment lawsuit).
In fact, not only the Selangor state government has introduced legal aid subsidies, but the Federal Government’s Legal Aid Bureau (Jabatan Bantuan Guaman Malaysia) has also introduced similar legal aid.
The Legal Aid Bureau (Jabatan Bantuan Guaman Malaysia) will provide specific assistance, including divorce procedures, adoption procedures, property disputes, etc. It must be noted that not everyone can get legal aid, but the following conditions are required
1. The first category:
Annual income below RM25,000 requires RM 2 registration fee
2. The second category:
Annual income is higher than RM25,000, but less than RM30,000, RM 2 registration fee + RM 300 is required
3. The third category:
For those with an annual income of RM 30,000 and above, if you want to apply for legal aid in special circumstances, you can write to the relevant department directly.
How to apply for and obtain legal aid? People who want to apply for legal aid must also go through the following procedures:
1. Make an application
2. The relevant authorities will investigate the true financial situation of the applicant
3. If eligible, applicants need to pay RM 2 registration fee
4. Applicants need to fill in the relevant forms
5. Simple interview
6. Fill in the affidavit (Surat Akuan) to prove that what is said is the truth
7. The relevant authorities will assist the applicant under the case
