Court back in action with Covid-19 precautionary measures

CORONAVIRUS | On the first day of courts being allowed to resume operation nationwide, multiple health precautionary measures were in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Checks by Malaysiakini at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex at Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur this morning showed lawyers and members of the public hunched over makeshift tables to fill their personal details in the visitor’s forms.

Then the visitors, all wearing face masks, queued up before another counter just outside the complex entrance for court officials to check whether their cases are set for case management or mention today.

Lines of yellow tape spaced around a metre apart are seen on the floor to ensure legal practitioners and members of the public observe social distancing in the queue.

After that, court security personnel are seen spraying visitors’ hands, screen their body temperature, and then put coloured stickers on their arms before they are allowed to enter the court complex lobby.

Occasionally, a minority subset of members of the public can be seen standing outside the tape on the floor, causing them to stand too close together in the queue. This made court officials there to remind them to observe social distancing, to which they got back behind the tape on the floor.

Legal practitioners and members of the public that Malaysiakini spoke to outside the courts complex backed the health precautionary measures in place and do not mind the extra hassle.

Among them is lawyer Zhen Tao who lauded the Covid-19 measures as necessary as the nation begins to reopen its economy and social activities after months of partial lockdown.

“The measures in place are good as they meet the minimum requirements to ensure safety (of visitors to the court premises).

“Even courts need to observe social distancing during the conduct of case management.

“It (safety measures) is worth the hassle as we now in the midst of a battle against Covid19,” he said after having attended case management of a civil matter there.

Zhen remarked that even when he was in the courtroom where the case management was conducted, he said the court officials there ensured that social distancing is implemented.

Another lawyer, who wished to remain anonymous, also supported the health precautionary measures as part of the national effort to contain the spread of the pandemic.

“I support the health precautionary measures at court. I do not mind waiting for a bit registering myself and undergo temperature screening before allowed to come into court,” she said before excusing herself to take a call from a client.

Petty trader Rizal Talib not only backed the extra precautionary health measures at the court complex but also noted that it instills discipline in people in efforts to stamp out the pandemic.

“(The health precautionary measures) Prevents overcrowding (at court). It helps maintain order and discipline (among visitors in order to tackle the spread of Covid-19),” he said.

When asked what matter he was attending to at the court complex, he said it was for case mention.

On May 11, it was reported that the judiciary will enforce strict health and safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines, including making compulsory the wearing of face mask at all times at court buildings and taking of body temperature before entering the premises, when open court proceedings resume in stages beginning today. 

Meanwhile, a police officer attached to the court complex explained that the measures are needed to be implemented as the court will conduct full hearings and trials next week.

He said when trials resume, the court will take steps to limit the number of people who can enter the courtroom to witness the hearing in order to ensure social distancing. 

“Social distancing is important especially when the high profile hearings next week resume and the resulting supporters and family members of the accused, as well as journalists, are expected to converge,” he said.

The police officer is believed to be referring to the resumption of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial on Tuesday next week, during the period of the conditional movement control order (MCO).

The accused’s trial is expected to resume on May 19 following postponement caused by the imposition of the MCO since March 18.

Initially set for the resumption of hearing on May 18, Najib’s 1MDB trial was vacated to May 19 as the Pekan MP needs to attend a single-day Parliament sitting on May 18.  - Mkini