Sabah, Sarawak needs more moving courts.

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Sept 29: Government will focus on efforts to increase the number of Mobility Courts in Sabah and Sarawak to ensure that judicial services can be extended to rural communities.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Laws and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that the matter had been discussed with Chief Justice of the Nation, Chief Registrar of Courts as well as Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the expanse of land in both states caused the existing court facilities to be insufficient to meet the needs of the community, especially those living far from the city centre.

"In Sabah and Sarawak, we want to focus on the Motion Courts because the gap is huge and one court is not enough.

So, there is a huge need to add the Mobility Courts in Sabah and Sarawak", he said.

He said this after attending the New Johor Bahru Court Complex Construction Project Delivery Meeting, here today.

Attended by the Minister of Labour, Grandfather Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Commenting further, Azalina said that the Motion Court plays an important role in bringing judicial services closer to communities in areas where access to the court complex is difficult.

The operation of the Moving Court is carried out by two methods, including holding court hearings at a suitable location according to local requirements.

He added that the approach is essential to ensure that people in rural areas, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, do not face difficulties in accessing judicial services.

Justeru said that efforts to increase the number of moving courts will also continue to be focused through discussions between the judiciary and ministries to meet the needs of communities in both states.