New, high-tech courthouses being planned, says VK Liew

The Prime Minister's Department is planning to replace aging court premises nationwide with new state-of-the-art buildings, said de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong (above, left).

He said among the plans, which they hope to accomplish within the next four years, is to equip the courts with the latest information technology systems.

The aim is to increase the safety and security at the premises, as well as easing congestion, thus providing more comfort to the public in their dealings with the judiciary.

"Some of the courts, like the High Courts in Penang and Perak, had been categorised as heritage buildings. Some are 100 or even 200 years old, which were built during the British time here and had since been turned into court houses.

"So, if you can imagine, that time there was no such thing as air-conditioning. Now, although we have installed air-conditioners, of course. there are still issues. Some even have problems with fans, lighting, and their sewerage system.

"Some courts also pose security issues, as the judges and court officials who deal with cases share the same entrance as those accused of crimes, and their families.

"These are among the things that I am looking at," he told reporters during his visit to the Petaling Jaya Courts Complex this morning.

According to the minister, his department would also be engaging all stakeholders, including judges and court officials in their plan.

This is so as to ensure that the designs for new court premises would meet their requirement and needs.

Liew said he wants court buildings in the country to have state-of-the-art systems, using the latest technologies to assist the judiciary's operations daily.

"For example, (with latest technology) lawyers from Kuala Lumpur who are appointed for a case in Penang no longer need to travel physically to Penang.

"They can just do it from the KL Courts Complex through video conferencing, with the presence of the judge, and they can get the judge's decision there and then," he said.

Liew added that this would help ease congestion at the courts, as well as cut the legal fees that clients have to pay the lawyers.

He said the department would collect feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders first, after which they would start drafting a budget for the plan to table to the government.

"Maybe within these four years... Hopefully, we can do it within this first term (of the Pakatan Harapan government)."

Discussion with Bar Council on problem of touts

Meanwhile, on his visit today, Liew said he was there as part of his tour nationwide to check on issues faced by courts nationwide.

This include gauging the problem of law firms engaging of touts to solicit clients.

He said the practice of engaging touts had not only tarnished the image of lawyers, but the image of the judiciary as well.

"Overall, the main culprits in this are lawyers and law firms, who allowed these touts to conduct such unethical business.

"They are taking advantage of family members of those accused in court, who are desperate to appoint certain lawyers (who engaged the touts).

"This brings a bad image to the criminal justice system as a whole."

Liew said touts and irresponsible lawyers who engaged such services might not be deterred with the current legal provision sanctioning the practice, which only provides a maximum RM500 fine or six-month jail, or both.

Thus, Liew added, he is looking at increasing the punishment for engaging touts, and also discussing with the Bar Council on measures to stop the practice.

He said under the Legal Professions Act, the Bar Council can take action against irresponsible lawyers for flouting rules against touting, which include suspending their license.

Liew said the department will also set up an advisory centre at all courthouses in the future, where the public can seek advice instead of engaging touts. - Mkini