Govt looking at setting up Public Defender's Office, says Azalina

 

The government is looking at the need to legislate a Public Defender Act and set up a Public Defender’s Office.

This is according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, who said in a statement today that input from all stakeholders is being gathered on the matter.

She said the plan is aimed at improving access to criminal legal assistance, especially for those who can’t afford to hire lawyers to advise and represent them.

“Legal aid services are an important component in ensuring that justice is served. However, not all Malaysians can afford to pay for lawyers.

“Today, we have several bodies that provide legal assistance for criminal cases in Malaysia, including the Legal Aid Department, Bar Council’s Legal Aid Centre, National Legal Aid Foundation, and legal aid clinics that are operated by universities.

“These existing services have to be strengthened towards improving the quality of services rendered and access to justice, especially in cases involving people from a B40 background.

“In criminal cases, legal aid and advice should be easily accessible to any Malaysian and migrant kids during arrest, remand hearing, bail application, and mitigation by lawyers,” she said.

In the statement, Azalina said the Legal Affairs Division under her portfolio is holding a two-day engagement session and workshop, from today, to discuss the way forward for criminal legal assistance in Malaysia.

The event is organised by the division with the cooperation of the Legal Affairs Department and Bar Council, with the aim of gathering feedback from all stakeholders and experts on how to improve legal aid services in the country.

"Among the objectives, we are looking at the need to legislate a Public Defender Act and a proposal to set up a Public Defender’s Office, aimed at improving and reforming the criminal legal assistance services in Malaysia,” Azalina added. - FMT