by ANIS HAZIM 

The judiciary will not be reverting to physical hearing after the pandemic, says Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat. 

Speaking at the Opening of the Legal Year 2022 (OLY 2022) today, she said the judiciary has always embarked on technological advancements, and online or virtual hearings mark its progress in this direction. 

“The advent of online hearings is not merely a means to cope with the pandemic but a permanent feature of our justice system.

“There is, therefore, no question of ‘reverting’,” Tengku Maimun said.

She noted that the judges have adjusted well to remote hearings of civil cases, criminal applications and criminal appeals. 

“The screen-sharing technology, we find, assists us with reference to documents and the level and nature of advocacy has improved irrespective of whether counsel before us is senior or junior. 

“We also think that remote hearings have made life easier for lawyers who have been relieved from having to waste time on travel,” she said.

According to her, there is a newly inserted section of 15A in the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (CJA 1964) which allows remote hearings.