The Right Honourable Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid bin Wan Salleh, Chief Justice of Malaysia is in Brunei Darussalam from 7 to 9 July 2026 for a working visit at the invitation of The Honourable Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam.
Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid is joined by a delegation from the Malaysian Judiciary, which includes The Right Honourable Justice Datuk Seri Abu Bakar bin Jais, President of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia, The Right Honourable Justice Datuk Seri Hashim bin Hamzah, Chief Judge of Malaya, and The Right Honourable Justice Datuk Hajah Azizah binti Haji Nawawi, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
This visit marked Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid’s first official visit to Brunei Darussalam since assuming office and, significantly, his first official visit to a fellow Southeast Asian country in his capacity as Chief Justice. It also marked the first occasion on which the four most senior members of the Malaysian judiciary undertook an official visit abroad together, with Brunei Darussalam being the first country to host this high-level judicial delegation. This reflects the longstanding friendship, mutual trust and close judicial cooperation between the judiciaries of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
On 8 July 2026, Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong hosted the first biennial bilateral meeting between the two Judiciaries following the signing of the Memorandum of Judicial Cooperation (MOJC) between the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam and the Federal Court of Malaysia on 6 March 2024.
The MOJC formalised ties between the Judiciaries of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia and serves as a fundamental pillar of judicial cooperation in providing a platform to enhance communication, in particular through the exchange of knowledge, expertise and best practices for the benefit of both judiciaries.
During the bilateral meeting, the Chief Justices held productive discussions on the current progress and future direction of the Memorandum of Judicial Cooperation (MOJC). They noted the significant achievements made since its establishment, including the launch of the Brunei–Malaysia Judicial Lecture Series and the successful implementation of the Judicial Attachment Programme, under which two Judicial Officers from Brunei Darussalam were attached to the Malaysian Courts. Under the Brunei–Malaysia Judicial Lecture Series, two online sessions have been conducted. The inaugural lecture focused on the principles of judgment writing, while the second session addressed sexual offences against children and the management of sensitive cases involving vulnerable witnesses.
The Chief Justices also spoke on the success of the judicial attachment programme hosted by the Malaysian Judiciary and undertaken by two Bruneian judicial officers in 2025. The programme strengthened institutional ties and Brunei Darussalam looks forward to welcoming judicial officers from the Malaysian Judiciary under the reciprocal attachment programme in 2027.
Looking ahead, both Chief Justices reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under the MOJC and exploring new areas of mutual interest. Particular emphasis was placed on areas of judicial administration, court governance, voice to text transcription, developments on the use technology and artificial intelligence in supporting the administration of justice. In concluding the bilateral meeting, both Chief Justices expressed their confidence that the MOJC would continue to serve as an important framework for advancing collaboration, dialogue and professional exchanges between the Judiciaries of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
SUPREME COURT OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM / 8 JULY 2026