PETALING JAYA: The judiciary’s move to use artificial intelligence technology was merely to be a reference tool for lower courts’ judges when they hand out sentences, the chief registrar’s office said today.
The artificial intelligence guideline would never take away the powers of a judge or magistrate on sentencing, the chief registrar said in a statement.
“At this moment, the guidelines are still at the development stage, and are expected to be completed in April next year. We welcome feedback to ensure this guideline can be used effectively,” the statement said, in response to lawyers’ concerns over the matter.
Earlier today, Bar Council member and criminal law committee co-chair Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali said the Bar was in the dark on the artificial intelligence guidelines, which are to be used on a pilot basis in selected courts next week.
He added he was troubled by its implementation as there was a likelihood of judges conducting a technical exercise in the process. “There are human factors involved before imposing punishment. The thought process of the judge is important after having considered the mitigating and aggravating factors of a crime,” Rafique said.
Former Bar president Salim Bashir said the system, developed and adopted in Sabah and Sarawak since 2020, did not take off last year in the peninsula as it had its weaknesses.
“I hope the stakeholders will be consulted as some of the offences carry the minimum mandatory jail term which requires the human touch by way of oral submissions,” he said.
The chief registrar’s office yesterday said the sentencing guideline was intended only as a quick guide and reference for sessions courts’ judges and magistrates.
The system would be implemented at the Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam lower courts from July 23, involving 20 common offences, including physical and sexual assault, theft of property, drug possession and traffic violations.
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