Lending a hand: The Legal Aid Department will expand the JoW programme to Peninsular Malaysia to assist the B40 group. — Bernama
IPOH: The Legal Aid Department will expand the Justice on Wheels (JoW) programme to Peninsular Malaysia to provide understanding and assistance to the B40 group in resolving legal issues.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said the first JoW programme in Peninsular Malaysia will be implemented in Negri Sembilan at the end of this month and will move to other suitable locations based on demand.
“We actually started in Sabah and Sarawak in early January. Based on the high demand, we decided to expand this programme to Peninsular Malaysia, starting in Negri Sembilan and then possibly to Perak and other places.
“From our findings, many issues involve inheritance matters, and most residents do not have access (to the resources) to resolve them.
“Therefore, the JoW platform is seen as capable of providing help,” he said after officiating the Legal Affairs Division ‘Meet the Customers Day’ programme, which was attended by over 500 visitors at Aeon Big Falim here yesterday.
On Jan 25, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said JoW involves mobile counter services using vans to provide legal assistance and disseminate information about the law.
Kulasegaran said since its implementation in Sabah and Sarawak, the JoW programme has successfully provided legal advice to 358 clients from January to the end of June.
He added that 13 departments, agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had participated to promote their respective roles to the public.
He said the Legal Affairs Division is also trying to open up opportunities and provide the public with an understanding of government policies, acts, procedures, and specific guidelines related to the roles of the departments and agencies involved.
“Our hope is that this will benefit all groups, and this platform is seen as a facilitator for all agencies and departments to engage with the public more deeply,” he added. – Bernama
