Malaysia’s courts revive circuit sittings to cut backlogs and boost justice access

A single judge in Johor Bahru handles 800 cases—an unsustainable load. Now, Malaysia’s courts are bringing hearings closer to communities to fix a broken system.

, and Administrator

2025 November 28 . 3:16 PM

1 min read

people are sitting on the chairs. in front of them there is a table on which there is a jug, papers... — people are sitting on the chairs. in front of them there is a table on which there is a jug, papers and pen. behind that there are people seated on the chairs. the person at the center is holding a microphone and speaking. behind them there is a white and blue flag. at the back there is a white and blue background on which honorable camara de is written.

Malaysia’s courts revive circuit sittings to cut backlogs and boost justice access

Malaysia’s Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has unveiled new measures to tackle court backlogs and improve access to justice. Among the key changes is the reactivation of the Court of Appeal circuit sittings, which will bring hearings closer to communities across the northern states.

The circuit sittings aim to ease the strain on an overburdened system. Currently, a single judge in Johor Bahru handles around 800 cases—a workload described as unsustainable. By moving appellate hearings to regional locations, the judiciary hopes to cut travel time, lower costs, and reduce disruption, particularly for vulnerable groups such as prisoners.

The reactivation of circuit sittings addresses long-standing demands from the legal profession. It will streamline the appellate process, offer practical training for new lawyers, and ensure justice remains accessible. The changes reflect a broader effort to modernise Malaysia’s judicial system and ease persistent backlogs.