Malaysia will start holding court trials through video conferencing while the country is under lockdown.

In-person court hearings have been put on hold, as citizens are currently barred from leaving their homes, except to buy essential items like groceries and medicine. They will still be expected to show up for court proceedings, however.

Involved parties must submit requests to hold hearings through a video conference three days in advance, the documents show. The announcement also advised all parties to be dressed appropriately during the video conference.

Malaysia’s e-Review system, implemented in 2018, already allows judges and lawyers to hold trials without needing to attend court in person, the Chief Registrar noted. Lawyers present their case and judges raise queries through the online portal. Malaysia does not have a jury system in its courts, as in Singapore, Indonesia and India.

Courts are a busy place and therefore a potentially easy place to spread the virus. However, they also serve a vital societal function. Therefore, this new innovation will enable courts to keep running but circumvent the need for in-person hearings, and thus reduce the social contact and potential transmission of the virus.

Federal Court of Malaysia