©The Star (Used by permission)
by ROYCE TAN
KUALA LUMPUR: The task force to streamline the legal aid services in Malaysia has held its first meeting, led by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said three aspects of transformation were discussed during the meeting – organisational, jurisdiction and financial means.
Speaking at a press conference here Monday, Azalina, who is minister–in–charge of legal affairs, said there was a need to streamline the legal aid services in the country offered by Government and non–governmental bodies.
"We have also discussed the means test to evaluate those who are truly eligible to receive legal aid in our country.
"We've not come to any outcome yet as this is only the first meeting. It will take the task force around three to four months.
"We have to relook at the whole approach of legal aid, whether to focus on criminal cases as a whole, or to split it up between civil and criminal," Azalina said this after the meeting in Parliament here.
The two main bodies for legal aid are the Prime Minister Office (PMO)’s Legal Aid Department and the Malaysian Bar's Legal Aid Centres, which are under the purview of various state Bar committees.
Azalina had previously that there were many other bodies and NGOs that provide legal assistance in addition to the two, something which should be streamlined to reduce confusion.
As of May this year, the Legal Aid Department had given 20,458 advisories and 6,802 Syariah, civil and criminal case registrations.