Malaysian Bar Cautions Against Oversight Body For Judiciary

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Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said the Malaysian Bar remains committed to protecting judicial autonomy from executive, legislative, or external interference.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar has warned that any move to establish a body to “examine and monitor” the judiciary could be seen as an interference with its independence.
Responding to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s statement at DAP’s national congress on Sunday, Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab welcomed his commitment that the government does not interfere in judicial deliberations.
However, he questioned why the idea of judicial oversight was even considered and said that any such move must be clearly justified.
“The Malaysian Bar remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring that the judiciary remains free from undue influence.
“Any measure that compromises judicial autonomy, whether through executive overreach, legislative encroachment, or external interference, risks undermining the fundamental principles of our democracy,” he said in a statement today.
Anwar had reportedly said the government did not interfere in judicial deliberations but wanted to ensure proper oversight through independent bodies.
“There must be supervision, checks and balances, and bodies that examine and monitor the judiciary – whether they pay taxes or if there are elements of corruption, as this has occurred extensively,” he was quoted as saying.
Ezri also reiterated the Bar’s call for an independent commission of inquiry to investigate potential interference in the judicial appointment process, following concerns raised by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
He said this was one of the resolutions passed during the Bar’s 79th annual general meeting on Saturday.
“Judicial independence is non-negotiable. The Malaysian Bar has long been at the forefront of protecting this independence, ensuring that the judiciary remains free from undue influence.
“The judiciary must be allowed to function independently, without fear or favour,” Ezri added. - FMT

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