Govt to introduce AI roadmap for legal system next year, says Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya plans to introduce the “Roadmap to My Digital Justice” next year in order to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the legal system, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the cooperation will involve various stakeholders, such as the Digital Ministry and Communications Ministry.

Azalina said using AI in the legal sector would increase service efficiency, streamline the legislative drafting process with data capabilities and reduce time taken for legal tasks.

“This roadmap is expected to include short, medium and long-term objectives, strategies, and initiatives.

“The main focus is to ensure a more critical and analytical human workforce than AI capabilities,” said Azalina during Minister Question Time on Thursday (Nov 14).

Azalina said other stakeholders that will be involved in the drafting of the roadmap will be the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), the Bar Council, and state legal bodies.

“Having a clear direction is very important as we adopt and embrace AI, which is expected to facilitate legal work in a transparent, systematic, fair and safe manner through an online platform that will be integrated into the public sector,” added Azalina.

She was responding to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) who asked about the government’s preparations in adopting AI systems in the legal sector.

Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) then asked a supplementary question on whether AI could take over the jobs of lawyers in future.

Azalina said she is not concerned that AI would take over the roles of lawyers and judges in future, as the human element is still needed to make discretionary decisions.

“Maybe AI can analyse data and information quickly. But in the end, some cases require the discretion of the judge,” added Azalina.

She also said many countries have used AI in its legal sector, such as the United States, the European Union, China, Estonia and Britain among others.

Presently, AI is used limitedly in the legal sector for court recording and video-to-text system, which is a system to automatically transcribe audio recordings into written text.

During the tabling of Budget 2025, Putrajaya allocated RM61mil to upgrade judicial facilities, including the development of the e-kehakiman system.