Kuala Lumpur's trusted voice for news, politics and business.
Malaysia's Parliament has tasked two special select committees with a three-month review of the Freedom of Information Bill 2026 and Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill 2026, following July approval for further scrutiny of the proposed legislation.
Malaysia is moving toward standardised accreditation for Syariah lawyers across all states. A proposal endorsed at the 2026 convention will be submitted to the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs for consideration.
A leading researcher studying Malaysia's Rule of Law Index warns that government reforms remain largely unknown to the public, undermining efforts to improve perceptions of the nation's legal system and international rankings.
Malaysia's amended Witness Protection Bill proposes one-off financial assistance for programme participants upon exit, covering housing and relocation expenses to ease their transition to civilian life.
Parliament has received the Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026, which strengthens protections for vulnerable witnesses, introduces psychological support services, and allows guardians to enrol dependants lacking legal capacity.
Parliament has referred the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill 2026 to a special select committee chaired by the Law Minister, which will examine the legislation governing maritime disputes and shipping matters within three months.
The Asian International Arbitration Centre's pro bono mediation initiative has attracted 158 volunteer lawyers since launching in May, offering free dispute resolution for commercial cases worth less than RM250,000.
Malaysia's government is undertaking a detailed study to enhance protections for cybercrime victims, examining international best practices and potential stricter penalties for offenders, including possible bank refund mechanisms.