PENGERANG: All court cases involving children must be prioritised and resolved within one year, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said new guidelines and standard operating procedures will ensure cases involving minors are handled swiftly and sensitively.
“We want all cases involving children, whether they are accused or victims, to be completed within a year,” she said on Saturday (Oct 18).
“This will become a guideline for the courts and the Attorney General’s Chambers,” added Azalina.
She spoke after officiating the handover of the new Pengerang court building.
The Pengerang MP said the Chief Justice and the Chief Judge of Malaya agreed on the initiative.
She said it will be launched on Friday (Oct 24) at the Palace of Justice.
Azalina then said special courtrooms for sexual crimes and child abuse cases are being introduced.
She added that “evidence vans” will record testimony from young witnesses to support the process.
“Sometimes when a case is delayed, a child witness may later refuse to testify as they grow older or feel ashamed. That is why these new instruments, including mobile recording facilities, are important,” she added.
Azalina said the new procedures aim to reassure parents that schools and the justice system are safe and responsive.
On another matter, she said discussions are ongoing with social media platforms about age restrictions for access.
She said the likely limit will be 16 years and below, in line with other countries.
“The good thing is that we already have the Online Harms Act,” she said.
She said it was developed with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the legal division.
“Its implementation will strengthen monitoring of social media platforms when directed by the government,” she added.
