KUALA LUMPUR: The government may set up an independent law commission by next year to review existing legislation and recommend areas for legal reform.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong (pix) said a white paper on the proposed commission has been completed and relevant stakeholders, including the Malaysian Bar, are being consulted.
“A bill will be tabled for debate after the Cabinet’s approval next year. The law commission can be chaired by a retired judge or professor of law, with assistance from legal practitioners,” he said during an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia yesterday.
Although Liew is a practising lawyer and the minister in charge of legal affairs, he said another individual is needed to handle the reforms by engaging stakeholders and the public.
Recommendations by the commission will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers before they are presented to the Cabinet. He said several ministries would look into possible law reforms.
“The modus operandi would be that if a ministry decides to have a particular law introduced, they can inform the law commission to do that,” he added.
The Malaysian Bar had expressed support for such a commission. Its former president George Varughese was reported as saying last July that the commission would promote healthy discourse, and development of sound laws and legal policies.
