Malaysia approves 143 posts for new Public Defender’s Office, says Azalina

Malaysia has approved 143 positions for the establishment of the new Public Defender's Office, aiming to enhance access to legal aid services across the country. The office, headed by an officer at the JUSA C level, has received approval from the Finance Ministry, stated Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

This move signifies a new chapter for the Legal Aid Department (JBG), working in tandem with the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) to bolster legal aid in Malaysia.

Azalina emphasized that the new Public Defender's Office complements YBGK, an integral part of the government’s strategy to modernize the legal aid system. The amendments to the Legal Aid and Public Defence Act 2025, passed by Parliament in August 2025, are set to take effect in the first quarter of 2027. Azalina highlighted the importance of the Public Defender working closely with YBGK and continuing cooperation with the Bar Council and State Bar Committees.

A key component of this initiative is the establishment of the Madani Mediation Centre (PMM), which aims to integrate mediation into everyday Malaysian practice. This alternative dispute resolution approach complements existing legal aid services provided by JBG, offering a more people-centric way for parties in disputes to settle their differences through mediation.

Sixteen hundred participants completed six series of the Professional Mediation Certification Course, funded by a RM680,000 allocation from the 2026 Budget Initiative.

At the event, Azalina launched the Madani Mediation Centre Handbook, a comprehensive guide ensuring systematic and consistent case-handling procedures, professional ethics, and mediation service standards nationwide.