Expedite reforms in judiciary, AGC, MACC following Nazlan probe, says Puad

 

Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi warned that the ‘deadlock’ involving the chief justice, attorney-general and MACC over the anti-graft agency’s findings of wrongdoing by Justice Nazlan Ghazali can destroy the country’s justice system.

PETALING JAYA: An Umno leader has urged the government to expedite reforms in the judiciary, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) after the outcome of the anti-graft agency’s probe on Justice Nazlan Ghazali was revealed.

Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said there was a “worrying conflict” involving the attorney–general, chief justice and MACC over the matter.

“The attorney-general doesn’t want to prosecute. The chief justice claims that MACC did not follow protocol while the MACC maintains its prerogative to carry out investigations.

“There is no compromise and a deadlock on this. It can destroy the country’s justice system,” he said in a statement.

On Thursday, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said revealed that MACC’s probe into Nazlan had concluded that he had violated the judges’ Code of Ethics and had a conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC International case involving Najib Razak.

In a letter dated March 20 to Najib’s solicitors, Shafee & Co, Azalina confirmed that Nazlan, who presided over the former prime minister’s SRC trial in the High Court, had breached the code.

She said this was based on MACC’s finding dated Feb 20, which the agency had extended to her.

She was responding to a letter from Najib’s solicitors dated March 15 inquiring whether MACC had written to Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to recommend that disciplinary proceedings be commenced against Nazlan in relation to his conduct of the SRC case.

On Feb 24, a seven-member Federal Court panel led by Tengku Maimun ruled that MACC had not followed protocol when conducting its investigations into Nazlan.

The apex court said investigating bodies like MACC must consult the chief justice before initiating a probe against judges. Its failure to do so showed there was “a lack of bona fide on their part”, the panel said.

Puad’s call for immediate reforms of the judiciary, AGC and MACC follow similar remarks by Umno Youth permanent chairman Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, who said Nazlan’s case emphasised the significance of transparency and clarity in investigations and the judicial process.

Puad had previously also urged Tengku Maimun and Attorney-General Idrus Harun to set the record straight following the revelations over Nazlan. He said the duo must take responsibility and respond to the matter immediately rather than trivialising it. - FMT