Conference Of Rulers Urged To Reject Judge Facing Integrity Allegations

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The Conference of Rulers has been urged to reject any nomination of a senior judge accused of judicial interference, should he be proposed by the prime minister or the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for senior judiciary positions.
Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla argued that since the judge’s integrity has been questioned due to the allegations against him, the rulers should exercise their constitutional prerogative to decline his candidature.
“When the integrity of any judge is still unresolved… can that individual be considered for any high-ranking position at this time? Surely, the matter of integrity must first be settled.
“If (the judge) is cleared of involvement in any improper conduct, then and only then can he be considered for any vacancy, but not at this time,” Haniff said in a YouTube video uploaded last night.
Lawyer Haniff Khatri AbdullaADSHe cautioned that if the rulers, particularly the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, accept a recommendation for the judge to hold a senior position, the judiciary’s integrity could be compromised should investigations subsequently cast doubt on the latter’s conduct.
“Wouldn’t it be a severe blow to the judiciary if a judge - especially one holding the highest office - were to be found guilty of (misdeeds)?
“This is precisely why the issue here is not merely about the prime minister’s conflict of interest, but more critically about the integrity of the (potential) proposed candidate,” Haniff added.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said previously announced that the Conference of Rulers is scheduled to convene for its 269th meeting from July 15-17.
The JAC’s recommendations on judicial appointment candidates will be presented to the prime minister, who will subsequently forward the names to the King.
Article 122B of the Federal Constitution stipulates that the appointments shall be made by the Agong, on the advice of the prime minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers.
On June 24, Malaysiakini reported that a police report filed on behalf of a senior judge had been leaked and circulated among legal professionals and on social media platforms, following an Enquiry by the news portal.
The police report was made after Malaysiakini contacted the judge on June 12, seeking comment on certain allegations against the judge made during a JAC meeting, including alleged interference in judicial affairs.
The judge did not respond and instead instructed his officer to lodge a police report on the same day.
The surfacing of the allegations sparked concern, with the Malaysian Bar announcing it would obtain the JAC meeting minutes to ascertain the truth, while the Defend the Judiciary Secretariat urged the judge to recuse himself from all cases.
Former deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin had also urged for an independent and thorough investigation against the judge, stressing that any allegation with a basis against any judge should be investigated fairly and thoroughly. - Mkini

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