Circular No 196/2021
Dated 29 May 2021

To Members of the Malaysian Bar and pupils in chambers

Notification of Court Operations during the “Total Lockdown Phase 1” Period

We refer to the announcement made by the Prime Minister on Friday (28 May 2021) pertaining to the implementation of the “Total Lockdown Phase 1” throughout the country from 1 June until 14 June 2021.

Following the announcement, the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia (“CR’s Office”) has issued an email on 29 May 2021 entitled “Operasi Mahkamah Semasa Pelaksanaan ‘Total Lockdown’ Fasa Pertama Berkuat Kuasa Mulai 1 Jun 2021”, pertaining to Court operations during this period.

With effect from 1 June 2021, the conduct of court matters nationwide will be based on the following directives:

(1)    Civil and Criminal Trials and Hearing

(a)    All scheduled civil and criminal trials and hearings which require physical attendance in Courts are vacated.  The rescheduled dates will be notified in due course;

(b)    Hearing of civil matters will be conducted by remote communication technology (“RCT”) in accordance with “Arahan Ketua Hakim Negara Bilangan 1 Tahun 2021 | Pengendalian Prosiding Kes Sivil Melalui Teknologi Komunikasi Jarak Jauh Bagi Mahkamah di Seluruh Malaysia” dated 7 Jan 2021 (see pages 4 to 39).  Conduct of proceedings by hybrid mode is not permitted; and

(c)    Taking into account the period of the Total Lockdown Phase 1, should Members face difficulties in proceeding with trials and are concerned that the rights of parties to a fair trial via RCT would be jeopardised, they may apply for adjournment.

(2)    Filing of Civil and Criminal Cases

Filing of fresh civil and criminal cases, notices of appeal and documents will be per usual via the Court application system.

(3)    Case Management of Civil and Criminal Cases

These will be conducted via RCT.

(4)    Fresh Charges, Applications for Remand and Miscellaneous Orders

These matters will be conducted by physical attendance in Courts.

(5)    Urgent Applications and Applications made on Certificate of Urgency in Civil and Criminal Cases

If necessary, parties may file urgent applications and applications with Certificate of Urgency in both civil and criminal cases.  The Courts will thereafter issue directions.

(6)    Criminal Applications Requiring Physical Attendance in Superior Courts (Mahkamah Atasan)

The Courts will exercise their discretion in considering such applications on special grounds and under exceptional circumstances.

(7)    Application of These Directives

(a)    These directives supersede all directives previously issued by the CR’s Office via emails on 17 Mar 2020, 26 Mar 2020 and 24 Apr 2020; and

(b)    These directives will apply in the event the Government announces an extension of the lockdown after expiry of the Total Lockdown Phase 1.


Should you need assistance, please contact the following Court officers:

(1)    Mahkamah Persekutuan
Puan Wan Fatimah Zaharah binti Wan Yussof
Timbalan Pendaftar
03-8880 3596 (Office) / 017-375 8923 (Mobile)
fatimah@kehakiman.gov.my

(2)    Mahkamah Rayuan
Puan Hasbi binti Hasan
Pendaftar Mahkamah Rayuan
03-8880 4045 (Office) / 012-209 8648 (Mobile)
hasbi@kehakiman.gov.my

(3)    Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya
Puan Zaharah binti Hussain
Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya
03-8880 3702 (Office) / 012-401 1100 (Mobile)
zaharah@kehakiman.gov.my

(4)    Mahkamah Tinggi Sabah dan Sarawak
Tuan Nixon Kennedy Kumbong
Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi Sabah dan Sarawak
088-286 100 (Office) / 013-804 2607 (Mobile)
nixon@kehakiman.gov.my

(5)    Mahkamah Rendah Malaya
Tuan M Bakri bin Abd Majid
Pendaftar Mahkamah Rendah Malaya
03-8880 9418 (Office) / 019-985 1333 (Mobile)
mbakri@kehakiman.gov.my

(6)    Mahkamah Rendah Sabah dan Sarawak
Puan Egusra binti Ali
Pengarah Mahkamah Negeri Sabah
Menjalankan tugas-tugas Pendaftar Mahkamah Rendah Sabah dan Sarawak
088-286 100 (Office) / 016-893 1397 (Mobile)
egusra@kehakiman.gov.my

We hope that the information provided here is of assistance and will keep Members updated.

Thank you.

Shahareen Begum
Secretary
Malaysian Bar


To view the full circular, please click here to log into the Malaysian Bar website, then return to this circular and click here.