Sultan: Learn from 1988 judicial crisis

Tun Arifin Zakaria (left) and Tan Sri Zulkefli Makinuddin.

KUALA LUMPUR  (Nov 27):  The Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong has reminded the legal profession and the judiciary  "to never ever go back to the few years of darkness in our country's history" following the 1988 judicial crisis.

 

"We must continually learn from our mistakes and build on our success in honour of the men and women of Malaysia who stood their ground for the good of their country during that difficult period," said Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan.

 

He said this in his keynote address at the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Forum Conference, organised by the International Bar Association, here yesterday.

 

Those present included Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Arifin Zakaria, Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Makinuddin, International Bar Association president  Akira Kawamura and Malaysian Bar president Lim Chee Wee.

 

Sultan Muhammad  V said that his father, the then Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Ismail Petra, stood up for the rule of law. 

 

"As his young Tengku Mahkota or Crown Prince, I proudly watched as my father stood his ground during the 1988 judicial crisis," he said, without elaborating.

 

"We shall not dwell on the past here today but we must learn from it so that the same mistakes will never be repeated," he said.

 

He added that without a strong, stable and fair government, a fair and independent judiciary, and a legal profession committed to the rule of law and not politically motivated, "all the progress and growth we have achieved and hope to continue to achieve will mean nothing."

 

The deputy king praised recent legal reforms such as the repeal of the Internal Security Act, the introduction of legislation allowing for the right for peaceful assembly, and amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

 

"All these reforms by the present government with the assistance of the relevant stakeholders in society are a move in the right direction but more can be done. 

 

"Some of the legislations we have amended and repealed may need to be re-looked at as the initial amendments may not have achieved all that was initially intended," he said. 

 

Asking the judiciary to continue appointing "men and women of integrity and intelligence" to the bench regardless of race or religion,  Sultan Muhammd V said it should consider calling on the "legal eagles of the Bar" to do "national service". 

 

"It is time these gentlemen and ladies ask themselves what they can do for their country. It is imperative that our judiciary consists of some of our country's brightest legal minds so that the jurisprudence in this country can grow along with the economic development that is taking place in Malaysia," he said. 

 

As for the Bar, he said it is imperative that lawyers work in conjunction with the government, the attorney general's chambers and the judiciary to ensure that the country has a strong and proud legal system. 

 

Sultan Muhammd V said that in order for Malaysia to be a success, foreign investors must not only have confidence in the government but also in the legal system. 

 

"Our neighbours across the causeway have been successful to a large extent in achieving this and we in Malaysia must endeavor to do the same," he said. - fz.com