These include proceedings in the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court.

The bills are to provide a new definition of “remote communication technology” and to allow receiving statements via remote communication technology.

Amendments are also proposed to legislation relating to subordinate courts, the Sessions Courts and magistrate’s courts.

The amendments do not affect the provision of evidence by child witnesses by means of a direct network under the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 and evidence by witnesses is protected under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act 1950.

Also to be amended is the Subordinate Courts Rules Act 1955 in relation to the membership of the Subordinate Courts rules committee. Under the proposed amendment, the membership of the senior judge of the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court will be replaced by the members of the Federal Court Chief Registry.

The Chief Registrar of the Federal Court is the head of department and is responsible for the administration of the judiciary in Malaysia, including the supervision of all state court directors.

Another proposed amendment provides that court rules may be made to regulate and prescribe procedures regarding the hearing of any matter or proceedings through remote communication technology.

The three bills are the Courts of Judicature (Amendment) Bill 2020; Subordinate Court (Amendment) Bill 2020; and the Subordinate Court (Amendment) Rules Bill 2020. The bills are to be put for debate at the current session of the Dewan Rakyat.