Government to launch roadmap to digital justice in 2025, integrating AI in justice system

by HIDAYATH HISHAM

THE government will introduce the “Roadmap to My Digital Justice” in 2025 to integrate digital solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) into the legal sector.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, said that using AI systems in the legal sector could enhance service efficiency, streamline the legislative drafting process with data capabilities and reduce the time required for legal tasks.

“With permission, this roadmap is expected to contain objectives, strategies and initiatives for the short, medium, and long term.

“A primary focus is to ensure that the competence of a well-trained human workforce remains more critical and analytical than AI capabilities,” Azalina told the Dewan Rakyat in the Question Time today.

She responded to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) who asked about the Government’s preparations for adopting AI systems/technology in the country’s legal sector.

Azalina added that this initiative will involve collaborations with the Ministry of Digital, the Ministry of Communications, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Malaysian Bar Council and state legal bodies to create a comprehensive approach to digital transformation in Malaysia’s legal sector.

Malaysia will look to examples from countries such as the European Union (EU), Estonia, China and the UK, where AI applications are used in small claims courts, legal document preparation and data analysis for legal aid eligibility assessments.

These models have shown how AI can support high-volume data processing and administrative functions in a secure and responsible way.

“I believe that establishing a clear direction is crucial in adopting and embracing AI, which can help facilitate legislative work in a transparent, systematic, fair and secure manner through an online platform that can be integrated within the public sector,” Azalina added.

Currently, Malaysia’s judiciary employs limited AI, such as automated audio-to-text transcription and sentencing guidelines in lower courts in Sabah and Sarawak.

The new roadmap aims to expand digital solutions across the legal system to improve the efficiency and accessibility of legal services.

The government has allocated RM61 million in the 2025 Budget to upgrade judicial infrastructure, including RM1 million for developing the sentencing guidelines system for lower courts.