Legal aid dept should not focus on criminal cases only - Azalina

The Legal Aid Department has been advised to focus its legal services not only on criminal cases but also on other cases.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said gave this suggestion at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) in Putrajaya today.

"We need to make policy changes in civil legal aid and criminal legal aid elements ... so far, the role of criminal legal aid has been played by the National Legal Aid Foundation," she said.

The department was established to provide legal aid services to those eligible under the Legal Aid Act 1971, and through this service, financially disadvantaged individuals can access legal services from the government at lower rates than those offered by private lawyers.

The jurisdiction includes areas such as legal advice, and legal assistance in proceedings (litigation) such as criminal cases, civil cases, civil family matters and syariah family matters.

On another matter, Azalina said the Parliamentary Services Bill, expected to be tabled in Parliament soon, would provide a new definition of the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary.

"It means Parliament will have a more independent structure. Although its implementation will take time, amendments to the Federal Constitution and this act (Parliamentary Services Act) are the first step. I hope the act will become a reality this year," she said.

The Parliamentary Services Act was introduced in 1963, allowing Parliament to act as an independent body and manage its own affairs, including hiring and finances, but was repealed in 1992.

- Bernama