Electoral reform group Bersih expressed its support and intent to join the Malaysian Bar’s “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence” event next Monday.
Its chairperson Faisal Abdul Aziz said the group will meet with the Bar soon to discuss the march.
“God willing, we will join. We just haven’t received the mobilisation and description of the march from them (the organisers) yet,” he told Malaysiakini yesterday.
The Bar announced that it will hold a march from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Putrajaya to deliver a memorandum demanding immediate action to defend judicial independence.
The memorandum to be handed over to the PMO will include the following demands: releasing minutes of a recent JAC meeting, forming a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe judicial interference, and addressing overall judicial vacancies.
Bar Council president Ezri Abdul Wahab said the march was due to growing concern over vacancies in key judicial positions and allegations of interference in judicial appointments.
Commenting on this, Faisal said Bersih stands with the Bar on principle as he sees the need for solidarity to defend judicial independence.
He added that Bersih sees the need for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to clarify questions regarding the appointment of judges, as was raised by various quarters.
He explained this is based on Anwar’s duties under Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, concerning the prime minister’s role in appointing court officials.
“Clarification on the issues raised is important to reject speculation that there is an attempt by the executive to interfere in the judiciary.
“Looking ahead, the government must be committed to improving existing laws to ensure that the independence of the judicial institution continues to be preserved.
“This includes reducing the prime minister’s influence in the issue of the appointment of judges, as well as elevating the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) as a constitutional body,” he said.
Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) founding director Cynthia Gabriel also confirmed her attendance at the march, when contacted by Malaysiakini.
She did not comment further on the matter.
Concern over new judicial appointments scandal
On Monday, nine PKR MPs demanded the formation of an RCI to investigate recent allegations linked to the functions of the JAC.
The JAC is responsible for recommending candidates for appointment or elevation to the superior courts - the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Courts.
The group, led by the party’s former deputy president Rafizi Ramli, expressed concerns that a new judicial appointments scandal is shaping up.
They based this on allegations that the government did not act on the JAC’s proposed candidates, submitted before Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retired from her position as the chief justice.
They were also alarmed by claims that the JAC was summoned for an urgent meeting in violation of the 10-day notice rule to propose new candidates for the vacancies.
Another issue pertained to allegations that the JAC had previously questioned a Federal Court judge over claims of judicial interference.
On June 25, Ezri said the Bar would seek the necessary orders to obtain the minutes of the JAC meeting held on May 16, which was when the senior judge was allegedly questioned.
Malaysiakini contacted the judge on June 12 seeking comment on the allegations but received no response. Instead, one of the judge’s aides lodged a police report against the news portal on the same day. - Mkini
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