The court trial process came under public scrutiny recently with the deluge of high-profile cases in the past month or so that involved prominent political figures, such as former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor as well as Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Several observers have said there was a need to expedite the protracted trial process, as many of these cases are still ongoing after several years, with some still pending appeals to higher courts...