MORE than 3,000 outdated laws must be reviewed to ensure legislation remains relevant, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said. 

“For example, in digital technology, existing laws may not be applicable or require amendments to address more relevant situations,” she was reported as saying by Bernama. 

Azalina said a list of the outdated laws, some of which were drafted before independence, would be compiled for the prime minister to consider further action. 

“We may need to prepare a cabinet paper, listing these outdated laws and propose establishing a special cabinet committee to review them.

“These laws affect all agencies and may also involve state, federal, and local governments,” she said. 

She emphasised that the review should engage various stakeholders, including the Attorney General’s Chambers, the judiciary, and law faculties of universities with the expertise to evaluate legislation. 

Recently, the media reported that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul had convened a meeting with the secretaries-general and legal advisors from each ministry to look into reviewing obsolete laws. 

He said such a measure was necessary to reassess laws that were no longer relevant or appropriate for the digital era and which needed to be updated. – August 12, 2024.