KUALA LUMPUR: Witness protection programmes involving minors and those who lack legal capacity will be strengthened through proposed amendments to the Witness Protection Act 2009.
The Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 13) by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Saidm with second and third readings scheduled during the current Dewan Rakyat meeting.
A new Section 10a and 10b will be included under the proposed legislation where a witness who has been included as a participant in the programme by the Attorney General, shall sign an agreement which sets out the terms and conditions of protection and assistance, the participant's obligations and related matters.
For participants under age 18 and those who lack legal capacity, the agreement can be signed by a parent or guardian.
The new Section 10b provides for the continuation of existing agreements between a participant and the government before the Act was enforced.
The proposed amendment of Subsection 13(2) will introduce psychological assistance, including counselling, as part of the assistance provided to a participant.
Two new subsections namely 16(12) and 16(13) will also be added. Through this, the director-general of the Malaysian Witness Protection Programme under the Prime Minister's Department will be empowered to decide whether to continue providing protection and assistance to a participant upon notification of the termination of the programme. This is to facilitate participant's safe transition to a new life and to specify the types of assistance that may be provided.
