Circular No 178/2021
Dated 23 May 2021

To Members of the Malaysian Bar and pupils in chambers

Update (23 May 2021) | Application for Police Permits for Interdistrict or
Interstate Travel by Witnesses to Attend Court Proceedings

We refer to Circular No 177/2021 entitled “Application for Police Permits for Interdistrict or Interstate Travel by Witnesses to Attend Court Proceedings”, dated 21 May 2021.

The Bar Council had written to the Royal Malaysia Police’s IGP Secretariat (Legal) Chief, SAC Tuan Ahmad Dzaffir bin Mohd Yussof, on 12 May 2021 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.

As the initial email from the IGP Secretariat (Legal) Chief, SAC Tuan Ahmad Dzaffir bin Mohd Yussof (“SAC Tuan Ahmad”), in response to our email was unclear with regard to our queries, we sought further clarification via a phone call on 22 May 2021.

In response to our query, SAC Tuan Ahmad has, via his email of 22 May 2021, confirmed the following:

(1) Witnesses in court proceedings who intend to apply for police permit for interdistrict or interstate travel must provide full information and bring along the relevant documents, such as a subpoena, to support the travel application.

(2) Witnesses in court proceedings are allowed to apply for police permit, at any time before the trial date.

(3) However, normally, witnesses are only allowed to travel interdistrict or interstate on the eve of the trial date.  If witnesses need to travel earlier than the eve of the trial date, then the application must be supported with strong reasons and justification as well as supporting documents.

We were also verbally informed that a travel application by a witness to attend court proceedings which satisfies the requirements, ought not to be rejected.  We were also informed that should such an incident occur, we are to notify SAC Ahmad who will look into the matter.

As such, Members who encounter a witness travel application being rejected are advised to notify the Secretariat, furnishing all relevant information and/or documents to enable us to take the matter up with the authorities.

SAC Tuan Ahmad’s email of 22 May 2021 is reproduced below for your reference.

We hope that the information provided here is of assistance to Members.

Thank you.

Shahareen Begum
Secretary
Malaysian Bar

Salam Sejahtera Tuan,

Merujuk kepada perbualan telefon di antara ASP Harjinder Singh dengan Puan Vilashini Vijayan, Director Bar Council Secretariat bertarikh 22 Mei 2021 jam 1.50 petang adalah berkaitan.

2.         Setelah mendapat pencerahan lanjut daripada Puan Vilashini Vijayan, pejabat ini mengambil maklum bahawa email Majlis Peguam bertarikh 12 Mei 2021 adalah merujuk kepada isu sama ada saksi boleh membuat permohonan bagi pergerakan rentas negeri / daerah kepada pihak polis 7 hari sebelum tarikh prosiding mahkamah.

3.         Untuk makluman Tuan, permohonan bagi pergerakan rentas negeri / daerah kepada pihak polis boleh dipohon pada bila-bila masa sahaja.

4.         Namun begitu, tarikh pergerakan rentas negeri / daerah adalah tertakluk kepada sehari sebelum tarikh prosiding mahkamah (dalam keadaan biasa). Sekiranya saksi perlu membuat pergerakan lebih awal daripada tarikh prosiding mahkamah, maka saksi tersebut hendaklah mengemukakan alasan dan justifikasi yang kukuh bersama dokumen sokongan bagi tujuan permohonan tersebut.

Sekian, terima kasih.

“PRIHATIN RAKYAT: DARURAT MEMERANGI COVID-19”

“BERKHIDMAT UNTUK NEGARA”

Saya yang menjalankan amanah,
t.t.
( AHMAD DZAFFIR BIN MOHD YUSSOF ) SAC
Ketua Urus Setia KPN (Perundangan) PDRM
Urusetia Pejabat KPN
Bukit Aman

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