121,341 civil cases backlogged in courts

KUALA LUMPUR: There are 121,341 cases pending in courts with efforts taken to improve efficiency and standardise the commencement of civil proceedings.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim said there were 51,697 cases backlogged in High Courts, 14,893 in Sessions Courts and 54,751 in magistrate's courts.

"There are currently no laws to standardise commencement of civil proceedings, giving rise to confusion when an action is filed. This is because there 20 other laws which are not specific and if there are no laws to standardise action, it will lead to claims being challenged," he said when winding up the debate on the Courts (Modes of Commencement of Civil Actions) Bill 2016.

The Bill was passed by a majority voice vote.

The Dewan Rakyat also passed the Judges Remuneration (Amendment) Bill 2017, which, among others, will allow High Court judges who have served for five continuous years to receive their pension and benefits if they resign irrespective of their age.

The five-year service period includes when the judge was serving as a judicial commissioner.

The amendments also widen the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint a High Court judge to serve the nation in a different capacity, for which the judge will still be entitled to receive pension and benefits as though he had retired at the age of 66