ISKANDAR PUTERI, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The Johor Bahru Court Complex in Kota Iskandar here is expected to begin operations on Jan 1 next year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said the new complex, built on a 6.88-hectare site, provides modern and conducive infrastructure to support the smooth running of judicial affairs and offer better facilities for court users.
Azalina said the complex was a long-term government investment to strengthen the judicial institution and ensure more efficient, equitable and integrity-based access to justice.
“Today marks not just the handover of a building, but also the strengthening of infrastructure for an institution vital to the nation, namely the judiciary.
“The court is where the law is upheld, rights are protected, and disputes are resolved in accordance with the principles of justice and impartiality,” she said after the project handover ceremony here today, which was also attended by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Azalina said the complex was designed with the personal touch and inspiration of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, featuring a blend of traditional Malay and vernacular architectural styles.
She said arrangements were being made for an audience with His Majesty to present the handover documents and obtain his consent to officiate the opening of the complex later this year.
The two-block complex houses 24 courtrooms, comprising one Special Court, seven High Courts, eight Sessions Courts and eight Magistrates’ Courts.
It also features judges’ chambers, administrative and finance offices, an auditorium, a library, a temporary detention area for accused persons, a surau, a kindergarten, a cafeteria and a multipurpose hall with a capacity of 300 people.
Other facilities include voice-to-text technology integrated into the case management system, along with 319 car parking bays, including designated spaces for persons with disabilities and electric vehicles (EVs), and 65 motorcycle parking bays.
The project commenced with site possession on Feb 8, 2023, and was undertaken by the main contractor, Cahaya Jauhar Sdn Bhd, using the Industrialised Building System (IBS), which achieved a score of more than 70 per cent. It was completed within the contract period.
Azalina said the existing Johor Bahru Court building on Jalan Air Molek would be handed back to the state government following the handover of the new complex.
Meanwhile, Nanta said the RM194.5 million project was completed on schedule after the site was handed over on Feb 8, 2023.
He said the complex was among 11 court construction projects implemented nationwide by the Works Ministry through the Public Works Department (JKR), with a combined value of RM736 million.
Nanta said the project, which adopted a design-and-build approach, recorded 2,001,474 working hours without a single lost-time incident.
He said that following the handover, management of the complex now comes under the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), while Cahaya Jauhar Sdn Bhd remains responsible for any defects throughout the two-year defect liability period under JKR’s supervision.
--BERNAMA