The government is considering establishing a sentencing council to reform the criminal justice system, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
A sentencing council will be an independent public body similar to the sentencing council in the United Kingdom, he said.
“This is to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing while maintaining the independence of the judiciary,” he added.
He was speaking at the launch of a book by senior criminal lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu titled “Criminal Litigation Process” in Kuala Lumpur, today.
Wan Junaidi said another issue on the table is prison reforms where the government is looking to ensure that punishment is based on the concept of restorative justice.
“This is to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected and guaranteed, thus improving the dynamics of the Malaysian criminal justice system,” he said.
Touching on Baljit’s book, Wan Junaidi said the publication which is the 4th edition, bears testimony to the importance of criminal procedures and trial processes in the administration of criminal justice.
He added that the administration of criminal justice can be a challenging process because it involves various mechanisms and functions.
“Moreover, it requires a delicate balancing of the rights of individuals on one hand and the protection of society on the other.
“As members of the law, it is paramount for us to take necessary action to deliver justice and defuse threats of crime as they emerge.
“One cannot do so without first understanding the history as well as the current state of the nation’s criminal law,” he said.
The minister said a lack of knowledge of the applicable laws and procedures also hampers the legal process.
“Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive publication which still maintains simple language so that it is accessible to all layers of the public to understand their rights and duties, the scope of the law, and discuss how it can be improved,” he said.
He added that the book is a gift to the Criminal Bar and the various stakeholders of the country’s criminal justice system.
- Bernama
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