CJ :Adjournments can now be granted for valid reasons

Chief Justice Richard Malanjum told representatives from the Malaysian Bar yesterday that he would not emulate his predecessor in only granting adjournments in cases involving “death or near death.”

According to Malaysian Bar president George Varughese, Malanjum said in a meeting with the lawyers’ body that case adjournments can now be granted if there are valid reasons to do so.

"We raised the issue of applications for postponement of cases only being allowed if it involves ‘death or near death’ as practiced by the previous chief justice (Md Raus Sharif), as to whether it is still applicable.

"The chief justice said it will no longer be the policy of the courts.

“Malanjum further assured the Bar that adjournments would be granted if there are proper and reasonable reasons for seeking the adjournment," he told Malaysiakini.

Varughese also noted that Malanjum agreed to more frequent meetings with representatives of the Bar – about once every two months – to discuss issues pertaining to the legal fraternity.

"The Malaysian Bar is very pleased with this regular consultative process initiated by the chief justice.

A number of issues were raised by the Bar yesterday’s meeting with Malanjum, among which was lawyers complaining of not being able to keep pace with the courts due to these adjournments being reserved for extreme cases. 

In the 52nd Judges Conference in Kuala Lumpur last year, Raus complained of the “endemic” habit of postponing cases creeping back into the judiciary, and reminded judges that such adjournments should only be granted in "death or near death" cases.

“The rule is that there shall be no postponement, except in the event of death or near death. This is definitely not a joke. It is a serious matter,” he said at the time. - Mkini