Malaysian Bar defends support for e-Jamin amid governance concerns

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Highlights

The Malaysian Bar said it was unaware that e-Jamin was operated without a formal contract with Dapat Vista (M) Sdn Bhd when it defended the system in May 2024.
The PAC report tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on 5 Oct 2026 found that the e-Jamin system operated without a formal contract and raised issues concerning the management of bail money as public funds.
The Malaysian Bar urged the government to make written contracts and service-level agreements mandatory for public services to protect public funds and ensure accountability.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Explanation of support and PAC findings

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, the Malaysian Bar said in a statement that it was unaware e-Jamin was being operated without a formal agreement between the government and its operator, Dapat Vista (M) Sdn Bhd, when it defended the system in May 2024.

According to the Malaysian Bar, its support focused on the system's operational necessity, which allows accused persons and sureties to make court bail payments outside banking hours. The body also opposed plans to discontinue e-Jamin from 19 May 2024 after being informed of the decision on 13 May, warning that a return to manual methods could delay the release of accused persons.

The Malaysian Bar said the PAC report tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on 5 Oct 2026 raised serious concerns because the system was found to have operated without a formal contract despite the Ministry of Finance requiring an agreement to protect the government's interests. The same report also raised issues regarding the management of bail money after the Attorney General's Chambers advised in March 2024 that the funds constituted public money and had to comply with constitutional and financial requirements.

Pressure on the government and governance implications

The Malaysian Bar described the findings as exposing serious gaps in governance and accountability for public services involving public funds. It urged the government to mandate written contracts and service-level agreements for public services to protect public funds and ensure clear accountability.

It also asked politicians not to politicise its involvement, stressing that it neither owns nor operates e-Jamin and has no investigative powers like the PAC. The Malaysian Bar also urged Members of Parliament to question the Ministry of Finance, the Prime Minister and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Law and Institutional Reform to clarify the matter and address the governance failures.

According to the body, the priority now is to protect bail money, ensure proper accounting and timely refunds, while safeguarding the administration of criminal justice and the rights of accused persons.

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