'Stop monkeying on bench,' MP tells judges

A Pakatan Rakyat lawmaker urged judges to "stop monkeying" around on the bench, pointing out that their duty is to dispense justice.

Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran (below) said as a practising lawyer, he has observed how litigants are getting increasingly frustrated with the way courts are dispensing justice.

He said he will personally bring this matter up when parliament resumes next month.

"I can understand the frustration of the litigant who threw his shoes at Federal Court judges yesterday, as the court allowed a preliminary objection. What is wrong with judges granting or extending more time after all he was not represented," Manogaran (left) said.

The court must dispense justice to the people, that is what the public expects them to do. Judges are tasked to dispensing justice without fear or favour, he added.

"Courts must not function as a corporate body in hurrying to dispose justice. 'Stop the monkeying' on the bench. They are making a mockery of the justice system," he said.

Manogaran cautioned that if the judiciary does not dispense justice fairly, then the public would lose their trust in the institution.

The judiciary, he said should be independent of all things, especially the ruling government in meteing out justice

Yesterday it was reported that Hoslan Hussain (right) threw his shoes out of frustration when the apex-court three -member bench allowed a preliminary objection to his affidavit filed outside the time frame to dismiss his appeal against an eviction order by the Federal Territory Islamic Council (MAIWP).

Hoslan in the same story had toldMalaysiakini that he had made numerous complaints against abuse of power and corruption, at the Ar Rahimah mosque, in Kampung Pandan to the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, resulting in his eviction.

Litigants frustrated with judiciary

Manogaran pointed out at the High Court, present Court of Appeal judge Abdul Wahab Patail had called for witnesses to testify in the Langkawi R&D Academy Sdn Bhd case, and at the eleventh hour with the witnesses already in court and their written statements ready, called off the hearing.

Normally when witnesses and witness statement are filed, they would be called in by the court, to give their testimony, followed by closing the case and submission.

The lawyer also said at the Court of Appeal when the appeal of this case was being heard, Justice Abdul Malik Ishak asked the government how much they wanted before delivering judgment, in total disregard of the accepted practice in meteing out justice.

Normally, the decision will be delivered first before the court asks the parties concerned  for the estimated costs.

Manogaran also pointed out that the negative practice has spread to the lower courts characterised by justice being hurried with judges not granting postponements when counsel is sick or is unable to be present, taking it upon themselves to make a decision.

"Such behaviour has to stop. As judges, they should temper justice with mercy and courts should always be viewed as upholding justice. If the courts cannot give justice where can the people go to find one," he asked.