Consider community service as a form of punishment - CJ

Chief Justice Richard Malanjum wants judges and magistrates to consider meting out punishments in the form of community service for lesser offences, instead of locking up such offenders in prison.

Justice Malanjum said there was such a provision provided for in the Criminal Procedure Code.

The move, he added, could also help reduce congestion in prisons.

"The move has been implemented in Sabah where I feel it is successful. They (offenders) would wear the (prison) attire while doing community service.

"As they faced the public (while doing community service), they will then be ashamed, rather than be spending one or two weeks in prison," he told reporters after officiating at the Legal Year event.

Earlier in his speech, Justice Malanjum reminded judges to consider this form of punishment when sentencing.

He also said the judiciary has undertaken many reforms the past year, including introducing the e-balloting system where Federal Court judges on the bench are chosen randomly and not picked by the chief justice.

Justice Malanjum said the e-review system also helped lawyers facilitate case management as they could do it from their office or home.

"We sympathised with lawyers who carried heavy bags to courts. We responded with the use of technology. I noticed that the Federal Highway is like a national parking lot, and hence the implementation of such a system will facilitate," he joked.

"We are in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We must adapt to be able to compete successfully. Technology is the way to go," he said adding that such practice had been in place in Sabah, from where he hails.

Malanjum also said before the end of this month, video conferencing will be available between Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Shah Alam.

"It will be expanded to other areas soon. And in the pipeline is the idea of virtual court and the use of hologram technology instead of video conferencing. But that will be another day" he said.

Other innovations being looked at include having an auto alert to remind lawyers to submit their defences or affidavits and judges are not spared, as they will also be reminded of their pending judgments.

"The system will alert them (judges) and keep reminding them in various colours yellow, green and red until they have done their work. This is what we call the monitoring system. Hence do not fault me, fault the system," he joked.

Malanjum also commended the United States Department of Justice for helping in exposing and training Malaysian judges and judicial officers on how to handle ‘modern’ crimes such as money laundering, cryptocurrencies fraud, terrorism and human trafficking.

He further vouched that the judiciary will remain independent under his watch, and pledged it will be free from corruption and interference, be it internal or external. 

"We welcome information if any of such occurring. I can assure you that swift action will be taken in accordance with the law.

"The judiciary remains and will remain steadfast in upholding its independence," he said.

Besides Malanjum, other top judges like Court of Appeal president Ahmad Ma'arop, Chief judge of Malaya Zaharah Ibrahim, and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak David Wong Dak Wah, also delivered their own speeches during the event.

Over half of prisons overcrowded - Home Ministry

Probe 18 deaths per month in prisons claim, Putrajaya urged

No end to state-sanctioned killings in prisons

Suhakam wants spot check rights on lock-ups