Latest news with #Harmindar
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
AI must remain assistive tool not decision maker says former judge
KUALA LUMPUR: Artificial intelligence must remain an assistive tool rather than a decision-maker according to former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal. He emphasized that any AI impacting individual rights requires rigorous testing and clear oversight before deployment. Harmindar stated AI possesses transformative potential for human endeavor but must not replace human judgment particularly within criminal justice systems. AI should be an assistant, not a decision maker he declared during his plenary session at the ASEAN Law Forum 2025. He cited a Sabah case where an AI sentencing tool recommended ten months imprisonment with fifty-four percent probability for a drug offence. The magistrate instead imposed twelve months imprisonment demonstrating human judgment must prevail. Harmindar chairs the Criminal Law Review Committee and stressed the necessity for proper rules and safeguards. A clear risk-based approach is essential before adopting AI in judicial processes he emphasized. Singapore has already issued guidelines for AI use in courts he noted while the Philippines drafts its judiciary AI governance framework. Malaysia and other ASEAN members must follow suit with their own frameworks he urged. A framework ensuring responsible AI use requires risk assessments and mitigation measures he explained. AI use cases must undergo testing for bias, reliability and transparency before adoption he added. He cautioned that AI's criminal justice application demands vigilance despite being powerful technology. We must always remain accountable he asserted regarding AI integration into justice systems. Approaching AI with eyes wide open prepares us to address risks and reap benefits he concluded. Colin Seow of Colin Seow Chambers provided Singapore's perspective on AI implementation. The Singapore Police Force uses AI in digital forensics to automatically sift seized devices for abuse material. This integration significantly improves investigation speed and accuracy he confirmed. AI deployment extends to Singapore's financial sector through the COSMIC platform he added. The Monetary Authority of Singapore launched COSMIC last year as a public-private data-sharing initiative. Major banks and financial institutions participate in this collaborative information sharing platform. AI analyses transaction patterns within COSMIC enabling proactive suspicious activity detection. Banks can flag concerning activities across institutions while safeguarding customer confidentiality he explained. Legislative changes support this initiative allowing information sharing strictly for crime prevention. The three-day ASEAN Law Forum featured fifty-eight speakers and moderators across fifteen sessions. Over three hundred participants from ASEAN and beyond attended the expert-led discussions. Topics covered alternative dispute resolution and commercial law reforms alongside human rights. - Bernama
Barnama
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
AI Must Remain As An Assistive Tool, Not Decision Maker
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Any use of artificial intelligence (AI) that impacts individuals' rights must only be deployed after rigorous testing and with clear oversight, says former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal. He said while AI had the potential to transform human endeavour, it must remain an assistive tool and not a decision-maker, particularly in the criminal justice system. "AI should be an assistant, not a decision maker. In Sabah, where AI sentencing tools were piloted, the model once recommended a 10-month imprisonment with a probability of 54 per cent for an offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, but the magistrate imposed 12 months instead. "The message is clear, AI can assist, but human judgment must prevail,' he said during a plenary session titled 'Criminal Justice Reforms: Ensuring Ethical AI in Criminal Justice Proceedings' held in conjunction with the ASEAN Law Forum 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today. Harmindar, who is also chairman of the Criminal Law Review Committee, emphasised the need for proper rules, safeguards and a clear risk-based approach before adopting AI in judicial processes. "Singapore has already issued guidelines for AI use in courts, and the Philippines is drafting an AI governance framework for its judiciary. Malaysia and other ASEAN member countries must follow suit. "We need a framework for ensuring responsible use of AI. This includes an assessment of risks, mitigation measures, and ensuring AI use cases are tested for bias, reliability and transparency before adoption,' he said while cautioning that while AI was a powerful technology, its application in criminal justice should be approached with vigilance. 'We must always remain accountable. If AI is to be used in the justice system, we must approach it with our eyes wide open, ready to address the risks in order to reap the benefits,' he added. Speaking from Singapore's perspective, counsel Colin Seow of Colin Seow Chambers said the Singapore Police Force had incorporated AI into digital forensics, enabling investigators to automatically sift through seized devices for child sexual abuse material and significantly improve the speed and accuracy of investigations.
Daily Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
East Malaysians urged to speak up: Criminal justice system reforms
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Harmindar chairing the CLRC's meeting session. Kota Kinabalu: East Malaysians are urged to speak up and shape the future of Malaysia's criminal justice system during a special townhall session held here on Monday. Chairman of the Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal said the session was part of efforts to review and reform three key laws including the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act. Advertisement 'This is your opportunity to tell us what works and what doesn't,' Harmindar said, a former Federal Court judge. He stressed that the voices of East Malaysians are vital to ensure that reforms are inclusive, practical and reflect the experiences of people across the country. 'The law affects everyone. That's why it's important the public, not just experts or officials, have a say. Reform must reflect real needs and realities on the ground,' he said. He noted that a similar townhall was recently held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which attracted over 150 participants. He emphasised that feedback would also be gathered through an online form open to all Malaysians and that subcommittees supported by researchers would be formed to study areas where fast improvements could be made. 'We're not here to politicise the law. We're here to make sure it serves justice, is rational, and is in line with the times,' he said. He encouraged participants to be honest and bold in sharing their views, even if they challenge existing laws. Meanwhile, Director General of the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) Datuk Zamri Misman revealed that the Government had tasked BHEUU to lead the introduction of Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) into Malaysia's legal system. He said this new mechanism, which would be included through amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, aims to provide an alternative route for prosecuting certain offences particularly involving corporate crime or financial misconduct. 'This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Attorney General's Chambers, MACC, Inland Revenue Board and Customs,' he said. Zamri said the townhall was also a platform to seek early input from enforcement agencies and legal practitioners on the feasibility and operational aspects of implementing DPA. Also present were representatives from State Prosecution Office, Prisons Department, Department of Social Welfare, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Sabah Law Society, the police and NGOs. 'Our reform process is meant to be inclusive and grounded in reality. We want the new policies to improve access to justice in a fair and equitable way,' he said. He hoped that the discussions would help shape a more progressive and just criminal justice system for all Malaysians. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Public input sought for sweeping criminal justice changes
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Harmindar chairing the CLRC's meeting. KOTA KINABALU: East Malaysians were urged to share their views on proposed criminal justice reforms during a townhall session held in the state capital on Monday. Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal stressed the need for public input in reviewing the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act. Advertisement He encouraged participants to offer frank and courageous feedback, even if it challenged existing legal norms. Harmindar said the reforms must be inclusive and represent the lived experiences of all Malaysians, including those in East Malaysia. Legal Affairs Division Director General Datuk Zamri Misman added that the Government is considering introducing Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) to better handle corporate and financial crimes. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
