KOTA TINGGI: The recently passed Legal Aid and Public Defence Act 2025 will ensure all children, regardless of nationality, receive legal aid, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said this was among the principles of the Act, which was passed in Parliament last week.
“We have agreed on three key principles. The first is for all children involved in criminal cases to receive proper defence.
“Another key principle is that legal aid extends to every child, regardless of nationality, and for the first time, the Legal Aid Department will provide public defence,” she said.
She said this in her speech during the officiating ceremony of the Asean Convention on Legal Aid for Children at the Desaru Coast Convention Centre on Sunday evening (Sept 7).
Azalina also called on Asean countries to establish a standard to ensure the legal protection of children across the region.
“I hope that this convention can come up with cross-border cooperation to build a regional framework for children’s legal aid.
“I also hope members attending this convention from various countries can have an open dialogue to set the stage for new Asean standards, including in terms of training legal professionals, creating safe legal spaces and spreading legal awareness,” she said.
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