Malaysian Bar Confirms Walk For Judicial Independence On July 14

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The Malaysian Bar has announced a march on July 14 to demand judicial independence, the legal body has confirmed.
Its vice-president, Anand Raj, told Malaysiakini that a notice on the matter will be issued tomorrow.
“The walk is on July 14. We will be sending a notice to our members, setting out the position, and once that is finalised and issued, you will be getting a copy.
“The notice is coming out tomorrow,” he said.
The last ‘Walk for Judicial Independence’ was held in 2022 to protest the MACC announcement of an investigation into Court of Appeal judge Nazlan Ghazali, which was considered an interference with the judiciary’s independence and a violation of the basic principle of separation of powers.
EGM slated for July 26
The Bar had, in a circular issued to lawyers last week, also called for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to discuss judicial vacancies, as tensions rose over the end of now ex-chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s term, with no successor named.
Former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan MatAccording to a July 1 circular sighted by Malaysiakini, the EGM is scheduled to take place on July 26 at Menara Matrade in Kuala Lumpur, beginning from 10am.
The agenda for the meeting is “to discuss matters and, if deemed fit, to pass one or more resolutions with regard to vacancies in the judiciary, its office bearer positions, and the appointment process, continuity in leadership of the judiciary, and the independence of the judiciary, in general.”
Tengku Maimun served her last day in office on July 1 and retired the next day. Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim retired shortly after, on July 3.
The duo will be joined in the following months by Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan, Zabariah Yusof, and Hanipah Farikullah.
Rahman, Zabariah, and Hanipah have already had their terms extended by six months.
ADSHasnah officially assumed the role of acting chief justice on July 3 and reportedly called an urgent Judicial Appointments Committee (JAC) meeting on July 4, following the mandatory retirements of Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar.
The JAC is responsible for recommending candidates for appointment or elevation to the superior courts – the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Courts.
Pressure on PM mounts
DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok had today joined the chorus of voices urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take decisive action on recent allegations over judicial appointments.
DAP lawmaker Teresa KokIn a statement, the Seputeh MP told Anwar to hold a briefing for all MPs in the government bloc so that they are comprehensively informed on the issue.
Kok’s statement ensued after former economy minister Rafizi Ramli expressed hope that Anwar would accept any request to face a proposed Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) proceeding on issues surrounding judicial appointments.
Speaking at a press conference with six other PKR backbenchers this morning, the Pandan MP also denied attempts to allege interference by Anwar in top judicial appointments.
He earlier read out a joint statement by nine PKR lawmakers whose demands include a proceeding of the PSSC led by Selayang MP William Leong, as well as a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate recent allegations linked to the functions of the JAC. - Mkini

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