Kuala lumpur: The proposal to broadcast live proceedings of high-profile corruption trials must first be examined against existing legal provisions before it can be implemented, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. To date, most court proceedings have been recorded in audio form, but none have ever been aired live, she noted.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said expressed uncertainty regarding the legal regulations surrounding the live broadcast of court proceedings, emphasizing that court approval would be necessary. She mentioned that while audio recordings are common in many cases, the idea of live telecasts would require discussions with the Chief Justice.

Recently, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki suggested that live telecasts of such proceedings could help boost public confidence in the judicial process. Azam argued the move was necessary as some parties had been using social media to distort court facts, leading to baseless allegations.

Separately, Azalina expressed her appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for proposing the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Law to ensure the country's legal ecosystem is better coordinated and integrated. She conveyed gratitude for the Prime Minister's suggestion, stating that he would evaluate the matter and make a decision.

The Prime Minister had raised the idea on August 21, stressing that such a ministry would enable Malaysia to engage more meaningfully with regional partners in advancing the rule of law, particularly within ASEAN.