In 2007, Malaysia embarked upon a long-term program to reduce its court backlogs and delays. For years, its yearly caseload had been increasing at a steady clip; for example, in the Federal Court of Malaysia, the annual number of cases increased from 713 in 2010 to 1,208 in 2018. Yet – even against this backdrop of rising workloads – the judiciary has demonstrated an improved capacity to clear these cases. By 2011, just four years after program initiation, it cleared 66% of its cases; by 2012, it cleared 79%; and ten years later, it had effectively reached a 100% disposal rate. Since that time, it maintained that 100% clearance rate.

What explains this unique success story? In short, no one factor. Instead, public sentiment ripe for reform, a smartly designed roll-out process of reforms, and targeted initiatives that addressed real problems on the ground seemingly coalesced to engender change.