Group Questions Urgent Jac Meeting Pm S Role In Judge Appointments

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A group expressed alarm at Acting Chief Justice Hasnah Hashim calling for an urgent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting on Friday (July 4).
The Defend the Judiciary Secretariat said this violated Section 13 of the JAC Act 2009, which requires a 10-day notice for the commission to meet.
The secretariat, which includes Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) president P Waythamoorthy, said this in a statement today.
They questioned whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is exerting influence on judicial appointments.
Acting Chief Justice Hasnah Hashim“The public is increasingly questioning whether external influence, particularly from PMX (Anwar), is at play.
“PMX is currently facing mounting opposition over his constitutional role in advising His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on judicial appointments,” the secretariat said.
On Friday, Free Malaysia Today, citing sources, reported that Hasnah, who officially assumed the role of acting chief justice the day before, called for a JAC meeting at 3pm.
The JAC is responsible for recommending candidates for appointment or elevation to the superior courts – the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, and High Courts.
Following the mandatory retirements of former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim earlier this week, only seven members remain on the commission.
Prime Minister Anwar IbrahimSources reportedly said a list of nominees for the country’s top judicial posts, including the chief justice, president of the Court of Appeal, chief judge of Malaya, and chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, had already been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office during Tengku Maimun’s tenure.
Call to remove PM from judicial appointment process
Commenting further, the secretariat asked if Anwar requested new nominations for judicial candidates, as the Conference of Rulers is scheduled to meet over judicial appointments in two weeks.
“Is PMX interfering in the judiciary appointment process to ensure alignment with his personal or political interests?
“Is this move intended to preempt a possible emergency parliamentary sitting that the opposition leader may call?
“Is PMX acting ultra vires (beyond the powers of) the Constitution?” it further asked.
The secretariat repeated calls for Anwar to recuse himself from all judicial appointments, pointing to the prime minister’s broad powers over the issue.
It urged the appointment of someone else to the role, saying this is to preserve the integrity and public trust in the judiciary.
It also echoed concerns of purported judicial interference and the implications of a police report lodged by an aide to a Federal Court judge.
The police report, which was leaked and circulated in legal circles, came amid allegations that the judge was questioned by the JAC regarding possible interference in judicial affairs.
On Friday, the secretariat urged legislators to debate the issue of judicial appointments, saying opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin should table an emergency motion in the Dewan Rakyat.
It raised concerns over reports that certain judicial appointments, such as that of former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh to a key judicial position, were made even though his name was never recommended by the JAC.
The secretariat was formed following a roundtable session chaired by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last month. - Mkini

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