Amendment to include legal companion services
KUALA LUMPUR: Amendments to the Legal Aid Act to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat next week will include the services of legal companions, or guides on legal processes, for clients.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday said the introduction of legal companions, which mirrors the legal system in India, was a continuation of the establishment of special courts for sexual crimes against children.
She said the service would be provided based on eligibility and request made to Legal Aid Department offices nationwide.
“This is a new legal service (in Malaysia). They will not hold watching briefs or provide legal counsel. Legal companions are lawyers under the Legal Aid Department. In certain cases, the department is allowed to outsource lawyers to be hired as legal companions as well.
“The legal companions will act as guides to provide advice and clarify court proceedings. The government views the establishment of legal companions as necessary to complement the setting up of special courts for sexual crimes against children.”
Azalina said, for instance, legal companions would carry out their duties by accompanying and assisting sex abuse victims in lodging police reports, and follow up his or her case.
“In India, children who are victims in cases of sexual crimes are provided with legal companions.
“The children and their families may not fully understand the legal processes taking place. But legal companions can help explain the situation.
“Children aged 5 or 6 may feel nervous in a courtroom.
“But with a legal companion, the child may not feel she or he is all alone,” she said after a media luncheon here yesterday.