Nurul Izzah Marches With Lawyers Moots Tribunal To Probe Jac Leak Claims

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PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar took part in the Malaysian Bar march for judicial independence today.
In a statement, she said concerns about interference in the judiciary have been strengthened by the leaked police report that a judge's aide lodged, as well as the leak of purported Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) minutes.
"These allegations must be investigated transparently to restore the people's trust in the judiciary," she stressed.
Nurul Izzah suggested the probe can be initiated by setting up an independent tribunal made up of five senior judges.
ADSOn June 12, a senior judge had ordered his aide to lodge a police report after Malaysiakini contacted the judge seeking comment on allegations that the judge was accused of judicial interference during a JAC meeting in May.
The report was leaked two weeks later.
Then on Saturday, purported JAC meeting minutes from May were also leaked on social media - and appeared to corroborate the allegations against the judge, as well as concerns of broader judicial interference.
Moral integrity
Nurul Izzah said that for justice to be upheld, it was crucial that there is no interference in the judiciary, whether external or internal.
Nurul Izzah Anwar (third left) with other rally participants"As such, anyone appointed a chief justice, Court of Appeal president, chief judge of Malaya, and chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, must not just be qualified, but have the highest moral integrity to carry out that responsibility," she added.
Nurul Izzah emphasised that improving the judicial structure so that it is more transparent and responsible is in line with PKR's reformist spirit.
Previously, only nine PKR MPs, led by former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, had voiced concerns about the judiciary.
This led to calls within PKR for the nine MPs to be suspended.
In May, when campaigning for the PKR deputy presidency, Nurul Izzah had positioned herself as a check and balance against her father, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim - saying she would raise objections over the re-appointment of Azam Baki as MACC chief commissioner.
However, she has not commented on Azam's appointment after her win.
Anwar, meanwhile, defended Azam's re-appointment, saying there was no one as bold as the latter.
ADS‘Hope Nurul Izzah conveys message to Anwar’
In a Facebook post, Perikatan Nasional's Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan said that Nurul Izzah's presence at the march makes "abundantly clear" that support for judicial independence transcends party lines and ideological boundaries.
PN lawmaker Wan Saiful Wan Jan (right) speaking to Nurul Izzah during the march"For me, the walk for judicial independence organised by the Malaysian Bar this afternoon successfully demonstrated the tremendous public support for the agenda of judicial institutional independence.
"This is especially significant given that PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah herself attended. I hope she will convey the important messages from today's march to the PKR president," he said, referring to Anwar.
Wan Saiful said that the government must not take the people's voices lightly, warning that various issues, including the leaked alleged JAC minutes, could cause public confidence in judicial institutions to plummet. - Mkini

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