Studies On Proposed Public Defenders Act Ready By Year End

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Azalina Othman Said said the committee studying the proposal will take into account the impact on existing laws in Malaysia, which may need to be amended. (Azalina Othman Said pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Findings from studies on the proposed Public Defenders Act to enable legal aid services in criminal cases for the less privileged are expected to be obtained by the end of the year.
The committee formed to oversee the proposed act is conducting a comparative study of the legal framework for public defence in countries like Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the UK, said law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said.
She said the committee will take into account the best practices in these foreign countries and also the impact on existing laws in Malaysia, especially the Legal Aid Act 1971 (Act 26) and the Legal Profession Act 1976 (Act 166).
Azalina was speaking while winding up the debate on the 2024 supply bill at the policy level for the ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.
On Feb 24, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when presenting the revised 2023 budget, announced that the government would closely examine an initiative to enact a special Act to provide free legal aid in criminal cases for the less privileged.
In this regard, Azalina said the mobile court initiative for civil cases will be expanded to facilitate people in obtaining court services, making access to justice available to all.
In addition, she said the roles of the Judicial Academy and the Shariah Judicial Academy would be strengthened to provide more structured and effective training for court judges.
Separately, Azalina also said the government did not rule out the possibility of amending the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88) before presenting the Freedom of Information Act.
This is to allow whistleblowers to have broader protection. The tabling of the Act cannot be rushed, she said.
“The Freedom of Information Act is very important but it needs to be looked into together with the Official Secrets Act 1972.
“The Official Secrets Act may be amended to also ensure the Whistleblower Act has a broader scope,” she said. - FMT

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