Judges need courage, not BTN's team spirit courses - Zaid

Judges should not be made to attend National Civics Bureau (BTN) courses, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said.

Replying to the explanation given by Chief Registrar's Office of the Federal Court yesterday, he said judges do not need courses on team spirit. 

"Judges need an independent mind and courage. All these are not in the BTN's curriculum and I hope the chief registrar can explain why these judges are subject to BTN courses," he told reporters after attending his court case in Kuala Lumpur today.

On this note, Zaid spoke about Sessions Court judge Zaman Mohd Noor who was transferred after acquitting him over a charge under Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for making an offensive posting on former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak. 

He questioned whether it was a mere coincidence or that the transfer was given for making a courageous decision of acquitting him.

"The court must be transparent and must explain on this to maintain the integrity of the judiciary. Being a former minister in charge of the judicial system and being passionate about justice, I am concerned about the sudden transfer of the judge."

Zaid said courageous judges who make decisions according to the law should be heralded.

Lawyers for Liberty had questioned why Sessions Court judges had to undergo BTN courses, a few months before the 14th general election. 

The Chief Registrar's Office responded in a statement by saying that the timing of the courses was a mere "coincidence", and that the courses were neither political nor meant to "indoctrinate judges".

“The modules planned for these courses were under our purview, not just BTN.

“The modules had team-building and generic (activities) and were aimed at increasing patriotism and team spirit, as well as instilling moral values.

“We would like to stress that the planned modules were not political in nature and were not intended to indoctrinate judges’ thinking," the Chief Registrar's Office statement added. - Mkini