Judicial Appointments To Follow Constitution Says Azalina

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The cabinet has discussed the vacancies in the chief justice and Court of Appeal president positions, reaffirming that the appointments will be carried out in compliance with the Federal Constitution.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the government is fully aware of public concern surrounding the matter.
"The Madani government remains committed to continuing to strengthen public confidence in the judicial institutions, including by examining long-term improvement measures towards increasing the transparency and independence of the judiciary.
"The government also wishes to call on all parties to provide space so that the process set out by the Federal Constitution can run smoothly and appropriately in the interests of the country, the rule of law and institutional stability," she said in a brief statement tonight.
Public concern ignited over judicial appointments following a joint statement by nine PKR MPs calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe recent allegations linked to the functions of the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC).
They expressed concerns that a new judicial appointments scandal is shaping up based on allegations that the government did not act on the JAC’s proposed candidates, which had been submitted prior to Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s retirement as the chief justice.
Former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan MatThey were also alarmed by claims that the JAC was summoned for an urgent meeting in violation of the 10-day notice rule to propose new candidates for the vacancies.
Another issue they were concerned about pertained to allegations that the JAC had previously questioned a Federal Court judge over claims of judicial interference, leading to various quarters backing the call for an RCI.
Members of the opposition also called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take a temporary leave during the RCI probe. - Mkini

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