Justice Should Be A Birthright For All, Not A Privilege For The Few - Azalina 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Justice must never be a privilege reserved for a few but upheld as the birthright of all, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She emphasised the urgency of reform in a world where 4.5 billion people remain excluded from legal protections, underscoring the need to strengthen Malaysia’s commitment to fairness and equality under the law.

“As Nelson Mandela reminded us that a nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones. Today, in a world where 4.5 billion people remain excluded from legal protections, our mission is urgent. 

“We cannot allow justice to be a privilege of the few-it must be the birthright of all,” she said in her speech at the ASEAN Law Forum 2025, themed Enhancing Access to Justice in the ASEAN Economic Community: Bridging Legal Cooperation for Inclusive Growth in the Digital Age at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

Azalina stated that, according to the World Justice Project, around 1.5 billion people are unable to resolve their civil, administrative, or criminal legal issues, and 253 million people live in conditions of extreme injustice, victims of statelessness, modern slavery, and high levels of insecurity. 

“Malaysia has made encouraging progress. From 2016 to 2023, our rule of law improved by 5.1 per cent, placing us among the top-performing countries in this area. 

“However, the global picture is less optimistic. Between 2023 and 2024, the rule of law declined in 57 per cent of countries. This means that today, 6.3 billion people live in countries where the rule of law has deteriorated,” she said.

Meanwhile, Azalina said the Government is undertaking major reforms to Malaysia’s commercial law framework, beginning with a comprehensive review of the Contract Act 1950. 

“Working closely with academia, legal experts, industry players, and civil society, we are addressing key areas such as unfair terms, cyber law, and digital transactions.

“At the same time, we are reviewing other core laws, including the Sale of Goods Act, to ensure our legal system remains relevant, business-friendly, and able to support innovation and global trade," she added.

Also present at the opening of the ASEAN Law Forum 2025 were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, Legal Affairs Division director-general Datuk Zamri Misman and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) secretary Anna Joubin-Bret.

The three-day forum brought together 58 speakers and moderators in 15 expert-led sessions, attended by over 300 participants from ASEAN and beyond, covering discussions over alternative dispute resolution, commercial law reforms, as well as business and human rights.

-- BERNAMA