After Izzah's rally march, Nik Nazmi urges PKR divisions to sign petition

 

Following Nurul Izzah Anwar's participation in the lawyers' march for judicial independence today, PKR's Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad issued a clarion call to the party's division leaders to sign the online petition safeguarding the judiciary's integrity.

The former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister said that this should be the goal, rather than calling for the suspension of the nine PKR MPs, over their demand for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into judicial appointments.

"Praise be to God, PKR celebrates diversity of opinion and is open to criticism.

“I hope the division leaders can sign the petition demanding an open and independent investigation into the judicial issue, rather than wanting to waste time suspending nine PKR MPs," he said in an X post accompanied by a photo of Nurul Izzah at the rally and a link to the said petition.

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The petition, which former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli launched via his social media platforms last Friday, aimed to demonstrate public support for an independent judiciary with integrity whilst rallying public pressure to protect the separation of powers and the rule of law.

Party discipline violation claim

On July 12, 19 Johor PKR division chiefs demanded the suspension of Rafizi and eight other party MPs, including Nik Nazmi, for violating party discipline in holding a public press conference calling for an RCI into judicial appointments.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (front left), next to Rafizi Ramli, along with other PKR MPs, calling for an RCI at a press conference last week

A day later, 11 PKR division chiefs from Kedah threw their support behind the call.

The nine PKR MPs had urged for the formation of an RCI, and for the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on institutional reforms to investigate alleged judicial interference.

They called for the RCI to probe claims that the government ignored Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) recommendations before Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s retirement as chief justice, including nominations for chief justice and Court of Appeal president.

Nurul Izzah Anwar (right) holding a sign with a rally participant today

Nurul Izzah turned up at the Malaysian Bar's march for judicial independence in Putrajaya today and proposed setting up an independent tribunal to probe the alleged JAC meeting minutes leak.

"These allegations must be investigated transparently to restore the people's trust in the judiciary," she stressed. - Mkini