[1] It was enacted partially in order to fulfil Malaysia's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

[2] In December 2004, members of the legal community suggested that the law needed review, despite its newness, in order to clarify its criminal procedures.

However, Section 97(2) was overturned by the Court of Appeal in July 2007 on the grounds that it violated the Constitution of Malaysia's doctrine of separation of powers, leading to the situation that no punishment at all could be rendered.

For an adult offender, Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides for a maximum of 14 days remand.

This problem was subsequently remedied in a 2003 case which held that the Criminal Procedure Code would govern the remand period of a child.