BANGI, Nov 12 — A total of 143 positions have been approved for the establishment of the Public Defender’s Office, with appointments to be made as soon as possible to strengthen access to legal aid services in the country.

The office would be headed by an officer at the JUSA C level, with approval for the establishment of the posts already obtained from the Finance Ministry, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“This marks a new chapter for the Legal Aid Department (JBG). As we discussed during the debate on amendments to the Legal Aid and Public Defence Act 2025, we looked at the roles the government should play alongside the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), as a substantial amount of government funding goes directly to YBGK.

“Now, we will establish the Public Defender’s Office to work alongside YBGK,” she told reporters after the presentation of certificates for the Professional Mediation Certification Course and appointments of mediators, as well as the launch of the Legal Aid Department’s Madani Mediation Centre Handbook 2026, here today.

Azalina said the Public Defender’s Office was part of the government’s efforts to modernise the legal aid system, moving beyond the traditional approach to provide services that better meet the needs of the public.

She said the amendments to the Legal Aid and Public Defence Act 2025, which were passed by Parliament in August last year, were expected to come into force in the first quarter of 2027.

“What is most important to me is that the public defender works closely with the existing YBGK unit, while continuing to cooperate with the Bar Council and State Bar Committees,” she said.

Meanwhile, Azalina said the government hoped to make mediation part of everyday practice among Malaysians through the establishment of the Madani Mediation Centre (PMM).

She said the initiative would complement the existing legal aid services provided by JBG under the Legal Aid Act by offering another avenue for alternative dispute resolution.

“With mediation, people can come to JBG to seek an alternative dispute resolution platform through the mediation services offered under PMM.

“This is a more people-centric approach as it gives parties in a dispute the opportunity to resolve their differences through mediation,” she said.

At the event, 210 participants completed six series of the Professional Mediation Certification Course organised by JBG in collaboration with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and the National Legal Training Institute.

The programme was funded through an allocation of RM680,000 under the 2026 Budget Initiative to strengthen mediation expertise in the public sector.

Azalina also launched the Madani Mediation Centre Handbook, developed by JBG as a key reference to ensure that case-handling procedures, professional ethics and mediation service standards are implemented systematically and consistently nationwide. — Bernama