The Evidence of Child Witness (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, 11th July, 2024.

Our Ms Goh Siu Lin was part of the panel of child rights activists and UNICEF, called upon to provide support to YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Binti Othman Said, Minister In The Prime Minister’s Department, Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), in connection with these proposed legislative amendments.

The Amendment Bill treats a child’s evidence on the same footing as an adult’s evidence, to include competency of children and elimination of the requirement for mandatory corroboration.

The court is now required during case management to give directions on how children will be questioned in court. These new provisions will bring Malaysian laws in line with international best practices enhancing the protection of a child witness in court.