Kuala lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Legal Aid and Public Defence Bill 2025, aimed at expanding access to justice and restructuring the existing legal aid system to ensure greater efficiency and inclusivity.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stated that the bill seeks to modernise the legal framework by extending coverage to civil and syariah legal aid, mediation, as well as legal companionship in cases involving children. The new law aims to make the legal aid and public defence system more inclusive, incorporating electronic (online) legal advice services.

Azalina emphasized the importance of this development, highlighting that many individuals in need of legal aid are unable to engage a lawyer, with some unable to even afford a consultation. She pointed out that the provision of electronic legal advice services is a step forward in ensuring access to legal assistance for these individuals.

Further elaborating, Azalina explained that the bill provides for the functions of the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) to be absorbed by the Legal Aid Department (JBG) under the office of the chief public defender. The government will also address outstanding fees owed to lawyers who have served under the YBGK scheme.

The bill intends to repeal the Legal Aid Act 1971 (Act 26) and improve legal aid services in criminal proceedings by renaming them as the public defence service. It also introduces two new positions, namely the chief public defender and public defence officers.