KUALA LUMPUR: The legal aid department should partner with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lawyers practicing in the private sector and retired judges and lawyers to deliver the best legal services to the rakyat.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the department should not work in silo to improve the people's access to justice.
"Some changes that we would like to make is to increase our panel lawyers so we can help more people not only to go to court but also in mediation processes.
"I have instructed the department to look into shariah cases so we can mediate and settle out of court but for civil and criminal cases, we would be using our panel lawyers and I also ask for lawyers practicing in private firms in states for their cooperation.
"The government of course will pay but it will depend on their expertise and the case," she said to reporters after launching the eKlinik 6G application, here, today.
She added that this is also alligned with the 2024 Budget announcement whereby the Prime Minister had announced that no one should be left behind in receiving access to justice.
Earlier in her officiating speech, Azalina said the legal aid department should also promote and advertise their services at state assemblies offices.
The eKlinik 6G application is an application that allows for users to apply for legal aid, legal mediation, legal advice and for organisations to apply to hold legal clinics or legal literacy programmes.
In addressing accessibility other than through a mobile application, Azalina said she had also suggested for the department to set up kiosks at shopping malls.