Tuaran: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has expressed hope that the Justice on Wheels (JoW) programme, run by the Legal Aid Department (LAD), will be expanded to more interior areas of Sabah, to ensure broader access to legal aid services for all communities.
“This is a vital part of the people’s wellbeing, ensuring our justice system is inclusive and accessible to all levels of society,” he said in a speech delivered by Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim during the JoW programme event at Dewan Seri Sulaman on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister said the programme reflects the government’s commitment to delivering justice efficiently, especially for those in rural or underprivileged areas, in line with the State’s aspiration that “no one should be left behind” in accessing legal support.
He emphasised that LAD plays a key role in defending the rights of the underprivileged and ensuring fair access to justice, regardless of financial means or legal knowledge.
Over the years, various reforms have been introduced to promote public awareness about available legal aid services. “It’s essential that financial limitations or lack of information do not prevent anyone from seeking justice,” he said.
The introduction of a dedicated JoW Sabah van, launched in Penampang in January 2024, further reinforces the Madani and State governments’ efforts to reach every level of society, no matter the location.
In 2024, LAD conducted 28 JoW programmes across Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Kedah and Terengganu.
Last year, the JoW programme reached Pitas, Tongod, Papar, Sipitang and Paitan in Sabah.
So far this year, it has visited Kampung Gas (Batu Sapi), Tawau Community Hall, Lahad Datu Syariah Court, and Dataran Bagandang in Beaufort, before arriving in Tuaran.
“This is a vital part of the people’s wellbeing, ensuring our justice system is inclusive and accessible to all levels of society,” he said in a speech delivered by Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim during the JoW programme event at Dewan Seri Sulaman on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister said the programme reflects the government’s commitment to delivering justice efficiently, especially for those in rural or underprivileged areas, in line with the State’s aspiration that “no one should be left behind” in accessing legal support.
He emphasised that LAD plays a key role in defending the rights of the underprivileged and ensuring fair access to justice, regardless of financial means or legal knowledge.
Over the years, various reforms have been introduced to promote public awareness about available legal aid services. “It’s essential that financial limitations or lack of information do not prevent anyone from seeking justice,” he said.
The introduction of a dedicated JoW Sabah van, launched in Penampang in January 2024, further reinforces the Madani and State governments’ efforts to reach every level of society, no matter the location.
In 2024, LAD conducted 28 JoW programmes across Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Kedah and Terengganu.
Last year, the JoW programme reached Pitas, Tongod, Papar, Sipitang and Paitan in Sabah.
So far this year, it has visited Kampung Gas (Batu Sapi), Tawau Community Hall, Lahad Datu Syariah Court, and Dataran Bagandang in Beaufort, before arriving in Tuaran.