KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 — The Dewan Rakyat today has passed by voice vote the amendment Bill of the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 (Act 676) after its third reading.

The voice vote was called by Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s winding-up speech on the Bill.

Ramli proceeded to announce that the Bill had been passed, through a clear majority voice in the lower House.

The Bill included amendments to Clause 6B (1) which reads, "The Court shall prohibit any improper question to the child witness which appears to the Court to be — misleading or confusing; insulting, intimidating, humiliating, harassing, annoying, offensive, oppressive or needlessly repetitive; belittling in its manner or tone or otherwise inappropriate; or of no basis other than a stereotype based on the child witness’ sex, race, culture or ethnicity, age or disability.

For the purpose of subsection (1), the Court may have regards to the age, maturity, vulnerability or disability of the child witness as well as cultural background or religious beliefs of the child witness.

When winding up, Azalina said "special hearings” would only be held when deemed necessary by the courts.