Pengerang: The government will introduce a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that all court cases involving minors are resolved within a year, said Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. Azalina announced that the guidelines will be launched on October 24 at the Palace of Justice, marking a significant step in enhancing the judicial system for children.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina emphasized the need to address court delays, which can deter child witnesses from testifying once they reach adulthood. She stated, “We want all cases involving children, whether they are the accused or the victim, to be resolved within one year. Our focus is clear: cases involving child perpetrators or victims must be prioritized.” This principle has received support from the Chief Justice and the Chief Judge of Malaya, Azalina remarked during the inauguration of the new Pengerang Court.

The government has already implemented measures to expedite cases involving minors, such as deploying specialist evidence-taking vans to simplify the process of recording testimony from underage witnesses. Additionally, Azalina addressed a proposed smartphone ban for students aged 16 and under, which was recommended by the Cabinet. This proposal is to be considered alongside current legal instruments designed to ensure the safety and welfare of children.

Azalina noted the complexity of the issue concerning smartphone use among students and stressed the importance of examining practices in other countries that have set age limits between 13 and 16 years old. “I believe the Cabinet ministers have discussed the matter, and the Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, has also stated that it is still under discussion with social media platforms,” she mentioned. The Online Safety Act, developed with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), will aid in the enforcement and monitoring of social media platforms as directed by the government.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted yesterday that the proposed smartphone regulation is being considered due to concerns about addiction and the potential for criminal behavior resulting from excessive exposure to digital content. In a related development, the Pengerang Court, built at a cost of approximately RM17 million, is set to commence operations on November 1. The construction began in May 2022 and was completed by August.