On the 6th of August 2020, the Faculty of Law (FOL) Multimedia University held its webinar themed “Virtual Courts and Its’ Challenges” via Google Meet platform at MMU Melaka. YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Panglima Richard Malanjum, former Chief Justice of Malaysia was invited as the speaker of the webinar, which was attended by 212 participants including FOL students and academics. Also present during this fruitful session were few lawyers from Melaka Bar.
This theme was selected for the webinar in light of the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The court hearings in Malaysia were also affected and suspended after the government imposed restrictions on public activities to curb the spread of the virus. The speaker stated that the judiciary must prepare and ready for virtual court hearings and trials to be conducted using remote communications technology, especially when the country is on lockdown.
He also addressed the areas on how the students must be ready and take a proactive way to cope and adapt to the current technology. Furthermore, he also expressed his view that that the courts must be ready on taking matters remotely and virtually in order to ensure access to justice remains available to the public, despite the ongoing pandemic. Finally, the webinar was a success as all participants had shown their tremendous support by listening attentively throughout the session.
