In 2009, Malaysia underwent a series of judicial reforms. These reforms aimed to reduce the country’s significant court congestion and increase judicial accountability. Some of the reforms modernized the judicial system, such as with electronic case management and establishing new, specialized courts. Other reforms sought modest structural changes to the judicial system. For example, the Malaysian legislature expanded the remedial jurisdiction of its lower courts to prevent appellate courts from being bogged down with such cases, and the legislature also amended the way it appoints judges to promote transparency and judicial competence.

What makes Malaysia’s judicial reforms remarkable is not the ambition or goals of the reform movement. It is not even the specific reforms the country adopted. Malaysia’s reforms are noteworthy for their success.