Latheefa Acting Cj S Refusal To Facilitate Bar S March Unacceptable

---

 
Acting Chief Justice Hasnah Hashim’s refusal to adjourn court cases to facilitate the Malaysian Bar’s march on July 14 is unacceptable, said Lawyers for Liberty co-founder Latheefa Koya.
She said the reason cited by Hasnah, that witnesses and officers have made preparations for hearings, is untenable.
“It is by no means a good reason to reject the Bar’s request. Adjournments of this nature have been sought on many occasions before by the Bar or the Attorney-General’s Chambers on various grounds, and have been routinely granted.
“Hence, surely the adjournment requested should have been allowed in this matter, which involves the critical question of judicial independence in this country,” Latheefa said in a statement today.
ADSThe former MACC chief commissioner said this also unreasonably hindered the Bar’s right to exercise constitutional freedom to assemble.
The march next Monday, dubbed the “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence”, is to voice concerns on the state of the judiciary.
Malaysian Bar logo4 demands
The Malaysian Bar is planning to march from the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya to the Prime Minister’s Office to submit a memorandum with four demands.
The demands include: filling top judicial vacancies, releasing minutes of a recent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting, forming a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe judicial interference, and addressing overall judicial vacancies.
This came amid rising tensions over recent allegations concerning interference in judicial appointments, as well as allegations that a Federal Court judge had also interfered with the judiciary.
‘Bar empowered to uphold justice’
The Bar sent a letter to Hasnah on July 8 requesting permission to adjourn cases to other dates. The request was rejected the same day.
Latheefa said the rejection was a disservice to the courtesy and mutual cooperation between the judiciary and the Bar.
Acting Chief Justice Hasnah Hashim“The Malaysian Bar is a statutory body which is empowered under Section 42(1)(a) Legal Profession Act 1976 ‘to uphold the cause of justice without regard to its own interest or that of its members, uninfluenced by fear or favour’.
“Integral and most important to the objectives in Section 42(1)(a), is to uphold judicial independence and impartiality.
“In view of the statutory objectives of the Malaysian Bar, the acting chief justice should have done everything in her power to facilitate the march by the Malaysian Bar, including allowing the adjournment request,” she added. - Mkini

---