Circular No 177/2021
Dated 21 May 2021

To Members of the Malaysian Bar and pupils in chambers

Application for Police Permits for Interdistrict or
Interstate Travel by Witnesses to Attend Court Proceedings

We have received information from Members of the Bar that witnesses in their cases were able to apply for police permits for interdistrict or interstate travel to attend trial in court only a day or two before the scheduled trial date; any earlier application was not allowed by the police.

We were also informed that where the application was rejected, the trial had to be adjourned due to the inability of the witness to attend the trial, thereby disrupting the smooth progress of the same.

Consequently, on 12 May 2021, we wrote to the Royal Malaysia Police’s IGP Secretariat (Legal) Chief, SAC Tuan Ahmad Dzaffir bin Mohd Yussof, requesting that witnesses in court proceedings be allowed to apply for a police permit at least seven days before the trial date, providing complete information of the relevant court proceedings to support the application.

We have followed up on our request and have been informed that the matter has been referred to a senior officer for feedback.

We will update Members once we receive the reply from the Royal Malaysia Police’s IGP Secretariat (Legal) Chief.

Thank you.

Shahareen Begum
Secretary
Malaysian Bar


Please click here to view the full circular on our website, or here to view it on our Facebook page.