KUALA LUMPUR – In a keynote address at the ASEAN Law Summit, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that his government is considering reinstating a dedicated Ministry of Law. The move, he said, would enhance coherence within Malaysia’s legal framework and bolster its capacity to engage regionally in advancing the rule of law.
Anwar praised the current Minister in charge of law and institutional reform, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who operates under the Prime Minister’s Department, expressing his admiration for her passion and effectiveness in driving legal reforms. This effective ground-level leadership, he suggested, underscores the growing need for a stand-alone ministry dedicated to legal matters.
Malaysia previously maintained a separate Ministry of Law until its dissolution in 1995, after which the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) assumed its responsibilities under the Prime Minister’s Department. The proposed reinstatement seeks to centralize legal governance and improve coordination across the legal ecosystem.
Anwar emphasized the importance of access to justice—particularly for the poor and marginalised—at the heart of any legal reform. As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, he said the principles of inclusivity and sustainability should guide legal reform, ensuring that justice is not merely a concept, but a lived reality.
