Over 3,000 outdated laws to be reviewed in a bid to ensure laws are relevant

Over 3,000 outdated laws would be reviewed to ensure laws remain relevant said Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“For example, existing laws may not be applicable or require amendments to address more relevant situations in digital technology,” she told the media after the ministers’ monthly assembly today.

She pointed out that some of the outdated laws include pre-independence laws, would be compiled for the consideration of the prime minister.

“We may need to prepare a Cabinet paper listing these outdated laws and propose establishing a special Cabinet committee to review them.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

Azalina said the review should engage various stakeholders, including the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the judiciary and university law faculties with the expertise to evaluate legislation.

The announcement from Azalina comes in the wake of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul calling for a meeting with secretaries general and legal advisers of each ministry to look into reviewing obsolete laws to ensure its relevance in the digital era.