154 Mps Stand With Pm Zahid Shuts Down Resignation Demands

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BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged those pressing for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to resign to respect the legal process and democratic system.
He pointed out that Anwar has the support of 154 MPs, or over two-thirds majority.
On Friday, the Defend the Judiciary Secretariat had threatened to take the matter to court if Anwar did not step down.
Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said the group led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to rescind its earlier resolution calling for Anwar to take a leave of absence.
ADSInstead, he said the secretariat is now pushing for the prime minister to relinquish his post immediately on the grounds that the premier has a conflict of interest in judiciary appointments, as he is a party in several civil lawsuits.
The opposition has also organised a series of gatherings dubbed “Turun Anwar”.
Zahid reportedly said that Anwar had cleared the air on issues related to judicial appointments during his hour-long meeting with BN lawmakers.
He also indicated that there was no necessity for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to look into judicial appointments, since Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said said the government will study the best practices of other countries in appointing judges.
Urging all quarters not to politicise the appointments, Zahid said: “The king would take into account the personality and background of the prospective appointee when deciding on the matter, and we should respect the decision.”
Leak of alleged minutes
Last night, Malaysiakini reported that an alleged excerpt from the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting minutes in May had been leaked on social media.
This is expected to increase pressure on Anwar, who is already facing calls from MPs within his own party to establish the RCI.
The minutes, which are classified, appear to contain allegations similar to a leaked police report lodged on behalf of a senior judge in June.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Malaysian Bar will hold a march in defence of the judiciary, from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya, to deliver a memorandum that, among other things, calls for the establishment of RCI and the release of the JAC meeting minutes.
Anwar is also scheduled to meet with Pakatan Harapan MPs at his official residence in Putrajaya at 4.30pm tomorrow to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding judicial appointments. - FMT

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