KOTA TINGGI, June 13 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said will seek an allocation under Budget 2027 to expand the establishment of Legal Aid Department (JBG) satellite offices to rural areas nationwide.
She said the move is important to ensure that the public, particularly those in remote and rural areas, have easier access to legal aid services and are aware of their rights to legal protection and assistance.
“When we talk about legal aid, we must provide protection to the people so that they know they have the right to obtain legal assistance.
“That is why I will apply for an allocation in next year’s budget. If we can establish more satellite offices in districts located far from state offices, it will make it easier for the public to access legal aid services,” she told reporters after officiating the JBG Satellite Office at the Pengerang Court in Bandar Penawar here today.
Elaborating further, Azalina, who is also the Member of Parliament for Pengerang, said the service would be further strengthened through the use of JBG mobile vans under the Justice on Wheels (JOW) programme, which can reach villages and remote areas, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
Azalina said the approach is in line with the government’s aspiration to bring legal aid services directly to the people rather than waiting for them to visit JBG offices.
“For me, there is no point amending the Legal Aid and Public Defence Bill if people do not know where to seek protection and assistance.
“I have also instructed the Director-General (of the department) to ensure that these services are provided in all areas, including constituencies represented by the opposition. We will send letters to every Member of Parliament so that they can choose suitable dates according to their respective states,” she said.
Earlier in her speech, Azalina said the opening of the JBG Pengerang Satellite Office marked a strategic step by the Madani Government in strengthening access to justice through legal aid services that are closer, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of the people.
She said the establishment of the satellite office would reduce the need for members of the public to travel long distances to obtain legal aid services, thereby saving time and costs.
The minister said the establishment of the JBG Pengerang Satellite Office was the result of collaboration among various stakeholders within the justice sector, particularly the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.
She said the synergy among the relevant agencies demonstrated that efforts to expand access to justice require continuous commitment and cooperation to ensure that the services provided genuinely benefit the community.
“The opening of the JBG Pengerang Satellite Office will bring legal aid services closer to the people, in line with the Madani Government’s commitment to enhancing access to justice, because justice is not a privilege but a right of every citizen, ensuring that no one is left behind by the nation’s justice system,” she said. — Bernama
