INTERFERENCE IN JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS BY WAYTHAMOORTHY PONNUSAMY, M.A.P

The following is a recent statement by Waythamoorthy Ponnusamy, President of the Malaysian Advancement Party. I have edited it (I remove names) but the message is clear. My comments at the end.

INTERFERENCE IN JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
VERSI BM DI MUKASURAT 2.

It is now unmistakably clear that (o), who once vehemently opposed the executive's interference in the Judiciary, is now engaging in the very actions he once condemned. 

The Chief Justice of Malaya (CJM) position has been vacant since the third week of October 2023? After almost nine months, it is becoming increasingly clear that (o) is maneuvering to appoint his proxy, as a Federal Court judge, a move that could have a significant impact on the institution of justice and human rights in Malaysia. In July 2017, when then-Prime Minister Najib prolonged the appointments of the nation’s top two judges, (o) condemned Najib's attempt to appoint his proxies from the walls of the prison in Sg. Buluh.

On February 10th 2015, just before his sentence, (o) lashed out at the judges, saying they had "bowed to their political masters". He went on to further say, "..you have become partners in the murder of the judiciary. You chose to remain on the dark side.”

On May 8th 2022, as the leader of the opposition, (o) had this to say; “The country must be upright with the rule of law as this is a lawful country. It should not be filled with judges directed by the prime minister or politics, similar to what has happened before (the reforms). This matter should not be taken lightly. We want to raise the spirits of our grassroots who have been fighting for justice.”

So now, many wonder what has happened to (o) previous statements and positions. Was that all purely rhetoric to excite human rights and right-thinking Malaysians who were hungry for change? The potential consequences of these actions could be far-reaching, affecting the very fabric of our judicial system.

VERSI BM

Kini jelas bahawa (o) yang pernah menentang sekeras-kerasnya campur tangan eksekutif dalam Badan Kehakiman, sekarang terlibat dalam tindakan yang dikutuknya itu. Jawatan Ketua Hakim Negara Malaya (CJM) kosong sejak minggu ketiga Oktober 2023? Selepas hampir sembilan bulan, semakin jelas bahawa (o) sedang bergerak untuk melantik proksinya, sebagai Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan, satu langkah yang boleh memberi impak besar kepada institusi kehakiman dan hak asasi manusia di Malaysia.

Pada Julai 2017, apabila Perdana Menteri Najib ketika itu melanjutkan pelantikan dua hakim tertinggi negara, (o) mengecam percubaan Najib untuk melantik proksinya dari penjara Sg. Buluh.

Pada 10 Februari 2015, sebelum dijatuhkan hukum ke atasnya, (o) menyelar hakim, mengatakan mereka telah "tunduk kepada tuan politik mereka". Beliau seterusnya berkata, " anda telah menjadi rakan kongsi dalam membunuh badan kehakiman. Anda memilih untuk kekal dalam kegelapan."

Pada 8 Mei 2022, sebagai ketua pembangkang (o) telah menyatakan perkara ini; “Negara kita mesti menegakkan kedaulatan undang-undang kerana ini adalah negara demokratik.

Badan kehakiman tidak sepatutnya diisi dengan hakim yang diarahkan oleh perdana menteri atau pemimpin politik, sama seperti apa yang telah berlaku sebelum ini (sebelum
reformasi). Perkara ini tidak boleh dipandang ringan. Kita mahu menaikkan semangat akar umbi yang selama ini memperjuangkan keadilan.”

Jadi sekarang, ramai yang tertanya-tanya apa sudah jadi dengan kenyataan dan pendirian (o) sebelum ini. Adakah itu semua retorik semata-mata untuk menggembirakan pihak yang memperjuangkan hak asasi manusia dan rakyat Malaysia yang berfikiran benar yang dahagakan perubahan? Tindakan ini boleh menjejaskan struktur sistem kehakiman kita.

Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy
President/Chair
Malaysian Advancement Party
HINDRAF
July 16th 2024

 

My Comments :

May I say it again : 'I TOLD YOU SO'. 

I have been saying this since the 1980s. 
But let me say something else. 
ALL THESE ARE DISTRACTIONS.
THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DEFLECT YOUR ATTENTION.
DEFLECT YOUR ATTENTION FROM THE BIG PROJECTS.
DEFLECT YOUR ATTENTION FROM BIG CONTRACTS.
THAT IS WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON.
PEOPLE YOU ARE BEING CONNED - AGAIN. 

THEY ARE KEEPING YOU PREOCCUPIED WITH SILLY MATTERS.
THEY ARE DEFLECTING YOUR ATTENTION.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of MMKtT.