Noting that the executive and legislative have both been vaccinated under Phase 1, but not the judiciary, the former deputy minister said the three branches ought to have been treated equally and fairly.

She said while members of the legislature have been fully vaccinated despite the Parliament remaining closed, the judiciary has been “left behind” although courts are operating.

“The judiciary is a place for Malaysians to pursue justice and find relief,” Yeoh said in a statement.

“We need to ensure that access to justice is not hindered for the public. As such, judges, magistrates and court staff need to be vaccinated quickly under Phase 2.

“They are our frontliners dispensing justice. We cannot allow the wheels of justice to stop running or be hindered in any way, for justice delayed is justice denied.”

Phase 2 of the immunisation programme, which started last month and will run until August, will involve a total of 9.4 million people such as senior citizens, high-risk groups as well as disabled people.

Phase 1, which ran from February to April, saw 428,710 vaccinated. They include MPs and assemblymen vaccinated alongside frontliners such as healthcare workers and others from the health, defence, security and essential services sectors.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas said that they had written to the government since March, seeking for lawyers as well as judicial and legal services’ officers to be vaccinated.

“Lawyers who provide legal representation to accused individuals who are brought in from prison or detention centres may face a higher risk of contracting Covid-19.

“Judges and legal officers also face a heightened risk of contracting the virus due to the front-facing nature of their jobs,” he added.