The Opening of the Legal Year 2025 took place at the Supreme Court on Thursday, gathering members of the judiciary and the legal profession to mark the beginning of the new judicial year.
The ceremony began with the traditional Guard of Honour parade by the Royal Brunei Police Force, which was inspected by Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong. This was followed by the Chief Justice’s address, in which he described the annual event as a “moment for reflection, renewal, and affirmation of our commitment to justice and the rule of law.”
He then outlined the judiciary’s key initiatives for 2025, including an upgrade to the Judicial Case Management System (JCMS), reforms in civil procedure, enhancements to the family justice system, mentorship for legal professionals, and improvements to Brunei Darussalam’s insolvency and restructuring framework.
Emphasising the need for civil procedure reforms, the Chief Justice stated that “in order to support Brunei Darussalam’s Wawasan 2035 to become a dynamic and sustainable economy, our civil justice system must evolve to meet the needs of today’s court users.” He announced the formation of a working committee to review and propose updates to the civil litigation system, which he described as essential in empowering individuals and businesses to assert their rights and resolve disputes.
On family justice, he highlighted the judiciary’s commitment to promoting mediation and reconciliation, ensuring that judicial processes contribute to long-term societal well-being. He introduced the concept of restorative family justice, aligning with the Wawasan 2035 Social Blueprint’s vision to strengthen families, and expressed interest in collaborating with relevant agencies to improve support systems.
Regarding insolvency and restructuring reforms, the Chief Justice said the judiciary is gathering feedback to assess whether the current bankruptcy and insolvency regime meets the needs of individuals and companies. He underscored that “an effective insolvency and restructuring ecosystem is vital to promoting entrepreneurship, access to finance, and economic growth.”
On international engagements, the Chief Justice highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Judicial Cooperation (MOJC) with the Federal Court of Malaysia in March 2024 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Judicial Branch of Peru in November 2024. He also spoke about the establishment of the Joint Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) in May 2024, where representatives from the Judiciary, Attorney General’s Chambers, and Law Society work together to address legal challenges and enhance professional standards.
The event also featured speeches from Attorney General Datin Seri Paduka Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohammed Taib and Law Society President Haji Mohammad Zainidi bin Haji Abdul Hamid.
Among the distinguished guests were Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Haji Salim bin Awang Besar and Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law) Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu. The ceremony was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, legal professionals, and students from higher education institutions. – Fadley Faisal
