In an exclusive interview published by Chinese language newspaperSin Chew Daily today, Zaki said he has been committed to his pledge made during his appointment as chief justice, that he would do his best to exclude himself from Umno-related cases until the people change their perception about him.
Apart from that, Zaki also claimed he did not interfere in arranging the panels of judges hearing Umno-related cases.
Zaki (left) cited the legal battle between Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and his predecessor Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin during the Perak constitutional crisis as an example, saying he passed that responsibilty to Court of Appeal President Alauddin Mohd Sheriff.
Selecting judges to hear appeal cases in the Federal Court is one of the tasks of the chief justice.
Zaki, widely known to be a key lawyer for Umno before his appointment, was appointed directly to the nation's highest court, the Federal Court, on Sept 5, 2007. He was made President of the Court of Appeals on Dec 11, 2007, and promoted Federal Court Chief Justice on Oct 18, 2008.
Scheduled to retire
He is scheduled to retire next month, when he turns 66.
In the past, judges ascended through long service, with many starting off as magistrates and moving up as sessions court judges and then on to the High Court, Court of Appeals and the Federal Court.
Zaki and former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram are the exceptions. Gopal, a practising senior lawyer then, was appointed straight to the Court of Appeals.
Prominent lawyer and DAP chairperson Karpal Singh had previously raised the issue of Zaki allegedly bribing court officials when he was a lawyer, following a speech the latter made in Sarawak, and had called for disciplinary action against him.
During the interview, Zaki declined to comment on this allegation, on the grounds that he is not a politician.
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