Circular No 076/2020
Dated 26 Mar 2020

To Members of the Malaysian Bar

Update on COVID-19 | Movement Control Order (IV): Problems Faced by Members

We refer to Circular No 063/2020 entitled “Update on COVID-19 | Movement Control Order (II)” dated 17 Mar 2020, and to the Movement Control Order (“MCO”) issued under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967 as announced by the Prime Minister on 16 Mar 2020.

The Bar Council appreciates the shortcomings in the Chief Registrar’s email dated 17 Mar 2020 (refer to pages 3 to 7 at this link) and the difficulties that are faced by Members during the MCO period, and had written to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia on 25 Mar 2020 to seek clarification.

The Bar Council has obtained a reply from the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia YAA Tan Sri Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat.

The relevant portion of Her Ladyship’s email is reproduced below.  Members’ attention is drawn to the part where it says the Chief Registrar’s previous direction continues to apply for the duration of the extended MCO until 14 Apr 2020 and how urgent matters will be dealt with.

We hope that the information provided here is of assistance to Members.  We will update Members as and when there are new developments.

Thank you.

A G Kalidas
Secretary
Malaysian Bar

26 Mac 2020

Tuan,

MASALAH YANG DIHADAPI OLEH AHLI-AHLI BADAN PEGUAM MALAYSIA HASIL DARIPADA PERINTAH KAWALAN PERGERAKAN

Surat tuan bertarikh 25 Mac 2020 dirujuk.

2.         Seperti mana yang dinyatakan di dalam perenggan 2 (a), e-mel Ketua Pendaftar Mahkamah Persekutuan Malaysia bertarikh 17 Mac 2020 berkenaan Panduan Pengendalian Kes-Kes di Mahkamah Seluruh Malaysia berikutan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan di bawah Akta Pencegahan dan Pengawalan Penyakit 1988 dan Akta Polis 1967 bahawa semua perbicaraan / pendengaran kes sivil dan jenayah sepanjang tempoh 18 Mac 2020 hingga 31 Mac 2020 adalah ditangguhkan.

3.         Ketetapan bagi penangguhan kes ini masih terpakai apabila YAB Perdana Menteri melalui perutusan bertarikh 25 Mac 2020 telah melanjutkan tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) sehingga 14 April 2020.

4.         Bagi kes-kes yang memerlukan kesegeraan, pendengaran kes akan dilakukan secara dalam talian (online hearing).

5.         Sistem e-Filing termasuk e-Review memberi kemudahan kepada pihak-pihak dan kesulitan menggunakan kemudahan ini tidak sepatutnya menjadi sebab penggantungan sistem tersebut.

Sekian, terima kasih.

Please click here to view the full circular.