Justice minister Koeut Rith (right) shakes hands with Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia, in Phnom Penh on February 10. Justice Ministry
A top Malaysian lawmaker met her Cambodian counterpart to discuss international legal cooperation and law reforms.
Minister of Justice Koeut Rith held bilateral discussions with Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law & Institutional Reform), on February 10, during the latter’s one day visit to Cambodia.
“Discussions centred on strengthening legal cooperation and exploring mutual interests in institutional and legal reforms, reinforcing Malaysia’s commitment to regional legal harmonization and economic integration,” explained to Malaysian press release.
Malaysia and Cambodia enjoy close legal and economic relations, with last year’s launch of a cross-border QR payment linkage between the two countries as a prime example.
Under this system, consumers and merchants in both countries are able to make and receive instant cross-border QR payments.
This digital cooperation has boosted economic activities and advanced financial inclusion in both nations.
“Over the past year, Cambodia has maintained strong investment momentum, with Malaysia as a key contributor to the country's foreign direct investment flows. Strengthening our legal cooperation will facilitate exchanges across sectors like trade, investment, banking and culture by building a model that provides more efficient pathways for resolving commercial disputes, boosting investor confidence and driving economic growth,” said Azalina.
She informed Rith that the 2025 ASEAN Convention on Legal Aid for Children is a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening legal aid services for children in ASEAN countries.
It is slated to be held in June of this year, organised by the Legal Affairs Division of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department.
“The initiative will engage with Cambodia as part of a series of missions across all ASEAN Member States to foster consensus, strengthen legal cooperation and create a more consistent and predictable dispute resolution environment that benefits businesses across ASEAN,” she explained.
According to the release, Malaysia seeks to reinforce its commitment to the sanctity of international arbitration, appropriate regulation of third-party funding and the importance of ethical conduct by arbitrators.
This commitment saw Azalina travel to Singapore, Thailand China and today, Cambodia. Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, is focused on boosting the region’s appeal as an arbitral destination.
“The success of this outcome requires a united approach among ASEAN Member States. By working together, government officials, arbitral institutions, legal practitioners and industry stakeholders will be setting the stage for a more integrated, predictable and accessible dispute resolution landscape that benefits all Member States and their economies,” added the Malaysian minister.
The ASEAN Law Forum 2025 will take place from August 19 to 21 in Malaysia, with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM) dialogue partner, Japan.
It will serve as a key platform to foster regional legal cooperation, strengthen access to justice and enhance economic integration through effective dispute resolution mechanisms.
