Kota Kinabalu: The implementation of the Mobile Court for Children represents an important step in efforts to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups, particularly children, said Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Azizah Nawawi.
She said that while current mobile courts have been converted into Virtual Mention Rooms (VMR) and Virtual Non-Jury (VNJ) facilities, the Virtual Non-Examining Justice (VNEJ) component has yet to be incorporated.
Advertisement
According to her, the absence of the VNEJ component means that the mobile court facilities for children are not yet fully complete, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
“It is our hope that Sabah and Sarawak will be fully equipped with the complete facilities of a mobile court for children to ensure the full implementation of this initiative,” she said when speaking at the Opening of the Legal Year on Friday at the Sabah International Convention Centre, here.
Azizah explained that the Mobile Court for Children is an essential reform aimed at bringing the justice system closer to children who are involved in legal proceedings.
By conducting court proceedings in a more familiar and less intimidating environment, the Mobile Court helps to reduce the psychological distress often faced by child witnesses and victims in conventional courtroom settings.
Azizah further said Sabah’s vast rural and remote communities have long faced challenges in accessing justice and government services, with villagers often travelling long distances to reach the nearest court.
“Delays in registering births and deaths are common, sometimes requiring judicial inquiry.
“To address this, the Mobile Court programme was introduced in 2007 to bring justice directly to communities. Judges travel by land and river, supported by legal, medical, and government teams, hearing cases on-site to ensure even the most remote areas are served.
“Over time, the programme has expanded, with Mobile Court buses reaching rural towns and, since 2019, the Urban Mobile Court assisting city-bound communities.
“In 2025, the Mobile Court held 17 sittings across Sabah, resolving 1,274 cases, mainly late birth registrations, traffic offences, and matters requiring judicial inquiry.
“The initiative provides timely access to justice while easing the workload of permanent courts. More than a programme, it is a lifeline for communities, reflecting a commitment to making justice accessible to all, with continued activities planned for 2026,” she said.
At the Sessions Court level, Sabah recorded the disposal of 2,660 out of 3,459 civil cases and 7,070 out of 8,183 criminal cases, while Sarawak disposed of 2,554 out of 3,645 civil cases and 5,346 out of 6,209 criminal cases.
The Magistrates’ Courts in Sabah disposed of 9,645 out of 11,530 civil cases and 21,855 out of 26,164 criminal cases, while those in Sarawak recorded disposals of 7,598 out of 9,177 civil cases and 16,651 out of 20,839 criminal cases.
While acknowledging steady progress and improved efficiency, Azizah said some delays remain unavoidable due to factors such as witness availability, expert reports, the complexity of evidence, and scheduling constraints.
To address these challenges, she said managing judges have been appointed for Sabah and Sarawak to oversee judicial performance, monitor case disposal rates and backlog levels, and identify systemic delays across the Magistrates’, Sessions and High Courts.
“For these purposes (addressing challenges), and in view of increasing administrative workload in the CJSS’s office, another milestone for 2026 is the appointment of Managing Judges for Sabah and Sarawak. Justice Rhodzariah Bujang has been appointed as the Managing Judge for Sarawak, while Justice Azhahari Kamal Ramli assumes the role for Sabah.
“With their extensive experience as High Court Judges in Sabah and Sarawak, coupled with their tenure as appellate judges, I am confident that they will further strengthen judicial administration,” she said.
Azizah said the judiciary remains committed to minimising delays while upholding fairness, due process, and the highest standards of judicial decision-making, adding that the performance of the courts reflects the dedication and professionalism of judges, judicial officers, and court staff in both states.
She also said the judiciary continues to strengthen environmental justice through the use of the Wildlife Crime Sentencing Guidelines Calculator, known as WILDCAL, which was launched on April 24, 2024, and integrated into the e-Kehakiman Sabah dan Sarawak (eKSS) system.
Developed based on existing sentencing guidelines for wildlife crimes in Sabah and Sarawak introduced in 2019 and 2022 respectively, WILDCAL has been applied by courts across both states over the past year, resulting in greater consistency in fines and penalties, enhanced judicial confidence, and more efficient case management.
Azizah said the use of the calculator has also contributed to reduced delays and supported judicial officers in applying the law more effectively.
“Over the year, courts in Sabah and Sarawak have successfully applied the sentencing guidelines, leading to greater consistency in fines and penalties and enhanced judicial confidence in decision making. The use of WILDCAL has also streamlined case management, reduced delays, and supported judicial officers in applying the law more effectively.
“This year, the Sabah and Sarawak Working Group on Environment, in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia, will undertake a review of the Sentencing Guidelines for Wildlife Crimes in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Following consultations with relevant stakeholders, WILDCAL will be updated to reflect the revised guidelines. Upon completion of data collection at the end of 2026, elements of artificial intelligence (AI) will be incorporated into the Sentencing Guidelines Calculator for wildlife crimes in 2027,” Azizah said.
