Malaysian Bar Walk To Defend Judicial Institution Not Individual Judges

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The Malaysian Bar said its planned “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence” is to voice grave institutional concerns on the state of the judiciary, and not for any judge in particular.
ADSIn a statement today, its president Ezri Abdul Wahab also rejected several media reports which inaccurately characterised the march as a demonstration against the government's choice not to renew the terms of the former Chief Justice of Malaysia and the President of the Court of Appeal.
"The walk is not about individuals; it is a stand for institutional integrity. Any attempt to frame it otherwise is misleading and undermines the Bar’s position," he said.
He emphasised the event as a collective statement from legal professionals over their commitment to uphold judicial independence, the Federal Constitution and the rule of law.
But he said that the walk is not only for lawyers as anyone from the judicial or the public may take part.
Yesterday, Ezri (above) said the walk - slated for July 14 - will see the Bar submitting a memorandum with four demands to the Prime Minister's Office.
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 and unresolved vacancies following the recent retirement of senior judges.
Allegations involving the judiciary
On Monday, nine PKR MPs demanded the formation of an RCI to investigate recent allegations linked to the functions of the JAC.
Rafizi Ramli and several PKR MPs in a press conference on Monday to demand an RCIThe 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.
The group, led by the party’s former deputy president Rafizi Ramli, expressed concerns that a new judicial appointments scandal is shaping up.
They based this on allegations that the government did not act on the JAC’s proposed candidates, submitted prior to Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s retirement from her position as the chief justice.
ADSThey 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 pertained to allegations that the JAC had previously questioned a Federal Court judge over claims of judicial interference.
Ezri had said on June 25 that the Bar would seek the necessary orders to obtain the minutes of the JAC meeting held on May 16, which was when the senior judge was allegedly questioned.
Malaysiakini had contacted the judge on June 12 seeking comment on the allegations but received no response. Instead, one of the judge’s aides lodged a police report against the news portal on the same day. - Mkini

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