Judiciary Is Not A Playground Of Partisan Preferences

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LATELY there have been statements from various groups on the government’s decision not to extend former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s tenure following her retirement on July 1 this year.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has criticised the government’s decision not to extend Tengku Maimun’s tenure, saying it signals a lack of consideration for the future of the country’s legal system.
For weeks prior to the chief justice’s retirement, questions had arisen among legal practitioners , politicians over the lack of an extension for her and an announcement of a successor.
DAP came out late with a statement saying the judiciary is of paramount importance, and reiterated its position that the extension of the tenures “would be consistent with the reformist agenda of the Madani government”.
It is obvious from these statements that Tengku Maimun has shown integrity and defense of judicial independence.
The question is does the Malaysian public’s trust in the judiciary have to be confined to individuals, or would it be better that judges, whoever they are, are able to safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary?
Is it not the judiciary a guiding light to the objectivity of constitutional principles?
What the public aspires for is not only judges with integrity but also able to collectively safeguard constitutional principles that makes it truly independent.
If this is the case Tengku Maimun’s retirement is not the issue to the people since whoever comes after will carry on the torch of justice through balance and enlighten interpretation of the constitution that protects the life and liberty of all Malaysians.

Therefore the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (ACID) believes that it would be wise that judicial appointments should be separated from the preferences of the prime minister or politicians who have their own agendas.
Judiciary is the carrier of holistic constitutional principles, it cannot be a playground of partisan preferences or ideological battles. 
Ronald Benjamin is the Secretary for the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia

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