MODUL LATIHAN PENASIHAT MAHKAMAH BAGI KANAK-KANAK DI MALAYSIA: SATU CADANGAN PENAMBAHBAIKAN (Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial, 2022)
Penubuhan Mahkamah bagi Kanak-kanak (MBKK) dalam sistem keadilan jenayah kanak-kanak bertujuan memberikan perlindunganundang-undang terhadap kanak-kanak. Mahkamah ini dianggotai oleh seorang Majistret dan dibantu oleh dua orang penasihat seperti yang diperuntukkan dalam seksyen 11(2) Akta Kanak-Kanak 2001 (AKK 2001). Penasihat MBKK berperanan menasihati Majistret dalam memberikan perintah kepada kanak-kanak yang berkonflik dengan undang-undang dan jika perlu menasihati ibu bapa atau penjaga kanak-kanak tersebut. Namun penasihat MBKK berdepan cabaran untuk menasihati mahkamah akibat kurang pendedahan kepada modul dan latihan berkaitan. Sekyen 11 AKK 2001 juga tidak memperuntukkan keperluan latihan bagi penasihat MBKK. Sehubungan itu, kajian ini bertujuan mengenal pasti modul dan latihan sedia ada berserta isu dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh penasihat MBKK dan pihak-pihak terlibat berkaitan pelaksanaan modul dan latihan tersebut. Analisis dibuat terhadap jurnal akademik, dokumen perundangan dan modul berkaitan. Temu bual separa struktur turut dijalankan dengan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM) dan lima orang penasihat MBKK (mewakili kawasan bandar dan luar bandar) bagi mengenal pasti isu dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh penasihat MBKK. Kajian mendapati modul latihan bagi penasihat MBKK telah dibangunkan pada tahun 2013 oleh JKM dan Fakulti Undang-undang (FUU), Universiti Malaya yang mencakupi aspek perundangan. Namun terdapat beberapa kekangan dalam pelaksanaan modul latihan tersebut. Kajian ini mencadangkan kerangka penambahbaikan kepada modul dan latihan penasihat MBKK bagi meningkatkan wibawa serta profesionalisme penasihat MBKK selain membantu mereka untuk berperanan secara efektif dalam sistem keadilan jenayah kanak-kanak di Malaysia. (Training Module for Children Court Advisors in Malaysia: An Improvement Proposal)ABSTRACTThe establishment of the Court for Children in the juvenile justice system aims to provide legal protection for the children. The courtcomprises a Magistrate and is assisted by two advisors as provided in section 11 (2) of the Child Act 2001. The role of the Children CourtAdvisor is to advise the Magistrate as well as the children who are in conflict with the law and if necessary to advise the parents or guardiansof the children. In many occasions, the Children Court Advisors have difficulties in advising the court. It is because of the lack of exposure tothe modules and trainings relating to that. Furthermore, section 11 of Child Act 2001 does not provide for training requirements for ChildrenCourt Advisor. Thus, this study aims to identify the existing modules and training as well as the issues and challenges faced by ChildrenCourt Advisor and the related parties in the implementation of such modules and training. An analysis is made on the academic journals, legal documents and related modules. Semi -structured interviews were also be conducted with the Social Welfare Department (JKM), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) and five Children Court Advisors that are representing the urban and rural areas. It is to identify the issues and challenges faced by Children Court Advisor as regards to the training modules. The study found that JKM and the Faculty of Law (FUU), University of Malaya have developed the training module for Children Court Advisor in 2013. However, there are some constraints in implementing such modules and trainings. This study proposes an improvement on the training modules of Children Court Advisor in order to increase the credibility and professionalism of the advisors as well as to help them to play an effective role in the juvenile justice system in Malaysia.