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KUALA LUMPUR: It was unusually quiet at the main entrance to the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex yesterday. On any given day, this spot is always a hive of activity.
The silence is to be expected, given the suspension of most court proceedings in line with the imposition of the movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of Covid-19, which began yesterday.
A check showed that only a few vehicles carrying judges, magistrates and deputy public prosecutors would be allowed through the gates until Jan 26.
A court personnel who was on duty yesterday told Bernama only a one session court room and two magistrate’s court rooms were opened for mention of new cases.
“The media and the public are not allowed to enter. Only court staff and lawyers involved in new cases set for mention are allowed in,” she said.
However, media personnel are allowed to enter the Ampang, Petaling Jaya and Selayang courts but they have to strictly follow the standard operating procedures such as wearing of masks, scanning body temperature and maintiaining physical distancing while in court.
Visitors must also scan the court’s QR code before being given a yellow sticker, with the temperature written on it, before they are allowed to enter.
On Monday, the Office of the Federal Court’s chief registrar said in a statement that all hearings of criminal cases in open court scheduled until Jan 26 have been postponed following the implementation of MCO.
However, it said the trial or hearing of civil cases in courts throughout the country could be done using online communication.
