M'sian Bar to hold peaceful walk to PMO in push for RCI
PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Bar will be organising a peaceful walk next Monday over its call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into judicial appointments and alleged interference in the judiciary.
According to a circular sighted by FMT, Bar members will gather at the Palace of Justice (POJ) at 2pm on July 14 to walk to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and hand over a memorandum.
Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said despite the scheduling of an extraordinary general meeting on July 26 to discuss the issue, 'recent events have heightened the Bar's concerns'.
Earlier today, the Attorney-General's Chambers rejected calls for an RCI and a parliamentary select committee to investigate alleged irregularities in judicial appointments, saying the situation did not amount to a constitutional crisis.
It said any suggestion of a crisis was unfounded, and that discrepancies in timing or procedure related to appointments 'did not automatically amount to a constitutional crisis'.
It was also previously reported that the Bar was applying for the release of minutes from the Judicial Appointments Commission's (JAC) meeting on May 16, following media reports that a senior judge was questioned over alleged interference in judicial affairs.
FMT had reported that a senior judge was summoned by the JAC to answer allegations of interference in judicial appointments, dating back to last year.
Among other matters, the Bar's memorandum calls for judicial leadership positions to be filled as soon as possible, the immediate release of the JAC meeting minutes and the establishment of the RCI.
'The POJ is not just a symbolic starting point; it is the very heart of our judicial system, from which justice is dispensed.
'Walking from the POJ to the PMO – a walk of some 2,600m – would demonstrate the commitment of the Malaysian Bar to judicial independence and integrity,' said Ezri in the circular.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
After Thai-Cambodia truce, Anwar now seen as key to possible Asean-led Myanmar peace push
PHNOM PENH, Aug 2 — Following its successful mediation of the Cambodia–Thailand border truce, Malaysia may now seek to apply a similar conflict resolution model to one of Asean's most intractable challenges — the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's assertive diplomacy is redefining Asean's role, transforming the bloc from a passive consensus-based forum into a more active regional player capable of navigating complex crises, according to political observers. In just four months as Asean chair, Anwar has secured two major diplomatic breakthroughs in addressing long-standing regional crises – moves that have drawn praise from the international community. Former Indian Ambassador to Thailand Anil Wadhwa noted that Anwar's proactive approach is challenging Asean's longstanding principle of non-interference - necessary to address the ongoing crises and issues like human trafficking and scams. 'By doing so, Malaysia is restoring Asean relevance in addressing the Myanmar crisis and promoting human security in the region. Malaysia will do well to ride on its success in the Thai-Cambodia conflict and try the Asean mediation between the military regime and the NUG and other disparate groups,' Anil told Bernama from New Delhi. Anil, who served as India's envoy to Thailand from 2011 to 2014, underscored the urgency for Asean to develop a workable political framework to address Myanmar's multi-layered crisis — one that has defied solutions for decades. Anwar, however, broke the bitter diplomatic deadlock in mid-April. He met Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok and also consulted the National Unity Government (NUG) representatives to allow the flow of humanitarian aid into earthquake-hit regions — a rare moment of cooperation between the two rival entities. Most recently, Anwar hosted a high stakes meeting in Putrajaya between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, successfully defusing tensions along the two countries' shared border. The ceasefire, widely seen as a major Asean achievement, prevented a broader military escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians. The 77-year-old leader's diplomatic masterstrokes brought the much-needed calm to the border communities on both sides and helped save thousands of lives. Otherwise, it could have turned into a costly military confrontation, destabilising the region. Still, Myanmar's situation presents a more complex challenge. The country's civil war involves some 20 ethnic armed groups, many of whom have been fighting for autonomy or independence since 1948. With over 135 recognised ethnic groups and competing visions of governance, the path to peace is steep. 'Asean needs leadership — and Anwar is providing that,' remarked Kavi Chongkittavorn, a senior fellow at Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security and International Studies in Bangkok. 'He is making Asean more relevant under Malaysia's leadership, Timor-Leste is accepted into Asean, and to solve the Myanmar crisis, Asean needs the leadership too. 'Now Asean can engage superpowers, especially the US and China and others more effectively. Malaysia announced the new Vision 2045 that envisages the bloc as future-ready. Anwar is doing exactly that. It will take time to further rebrand Asean,' he told Bernama. He also highlighted the significance of the Thai-Cambodia ceasefire, calling it a milestone, especially since Thailand had previously rejected Asean mediation during similar border clashes in 2008 and 2011. While the world's focus shifted to the border tussle in recent days, Myanmar continues to grapple with its domestic predicaments from economic hardship, natural calamities, raging civil war in various states and internally displaced people. The military coup on February 1, 2021, has displaced at least three million people, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation 'The only way to solve the crisis in Myanmar is for the military government and the NUG constituents to come together to discuss power sharing, revenue sharing formula and open humanitarian corridors. The people of Myanmar need to be freed of their burden,' said Anil. The military government recently lifted its four-year-old state of emergency and has announced plans to hold national elections in December. Whether Asean, under Malaysia's leadership, can facilitate meaningful dialogue in Myanmar remains to be seen. But as Anwar continues to chart a more assertive course, political analysts agree: Asean may be inching closer to becoming a truly effective regional actor. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Impose Unexplained Wealth Order to curb graft among elite, says ex-MP
Former Klang MP Charles Santiago said Malaysia needs a law to force individuals to explain how they obtained wealth beyond their known income. PETALING JAYA : Former Klang MP Charles Santiago has urged the government to introduce an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) to tackle illicit wealth and systemic corruption among the elite. Citing official estimates, Santiago said Malaysia lost RM277 billion to fraud, procurement abuse, and illicit flows between 2018 and 2023, or RM55 billion annually, that could have funded schools, hospitals, and food aid. He pointed to the UK's UWO model, which recovered £62.9 million (RM390 million) in a single year through the order and related civil actions. 'Malaysia can do the same, recover stolen wealth without dragging cases for decades in court,' he said in a series of posts on X. UWOs allow authorities to compel individuals to explain how they acquired assets that appear disproportionate to their known income, even without a completed criminal case. Malaysia does not currently have a UWO framework. The existing laws, such as the MACC Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, allow investigators to request asset declarations and freeze accounts, but only after a case is opened. Santiago's remarks came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the sons of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to return any wealth they cannot justify. But he said unexplained wealth should not be 'about one family or the fallout of the Turun Anwar rally'. He said ordinary Malaysians are made to prove their income for aid or loans, while the wealthy often escape scrutiny. 'Unexplained wealth shouldn't depend on who's in power. Malaysia needs clear legal triggers that require individuals to prove how they obtained assets beyond their known income. 'Without it, justice is just politics,' he said.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
US tariff cut, regional diplomacy signal Malaysia's return to global relevance under Anwar's leadership, says DAP sec-gen
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Malaysia is carving out a more influential role for the country and for Asean on the world stage, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said today. He said the recent reduction of United States tariffs on Malaysian goods from 25 per cent to 19 per cent reflects how the country – and by extension, Asean, which it currently chairs – is regaining its footing globally under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'We are working to position ourselves as a 'middle power' while opening new strategic space for Malaysia to rise and advance once again,' Loke said in a statement. He added that Malaysia remains competitive even though it maintains a higher trade surplus with the US compared to its regional peers. 'Our current tariff rate is now on par with other countries in the region,' he noted. The US lowered trade tariffs for Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia to 19 per cent on July 31, while Singapore retained its rate at 10 per cent, Brunei at 25 per cent, Laos and Myanmar at 40 per cent. The new rates come into force from August 7. Loke said Malaysia's leadership as this year's Asean chair has also helped the country regain international relevance. He said Putrajaya played a key role in facilitating peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia, and confirmed that Trump would attend the upcoming Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. This, Loke said, reflects growing confidence in Malaysia's leadership and diplomatic credibility. He credited Prime Minister Anwar's 'pragmatic, patient and constructive' approach for elevating Malaysia's position in regional security. Under the Madani government, he added, Malaysia has helped steer Asean into becoming a stronger and more cohesive bloc. Loke said Malaysia's diplomatic performance may not always make headlines, but the benefits are real — from easing trade tensions to fostering regional peace. 'The Madani government has not only delivered tangible economic benefits, but also elevated Malaysia's global standing,' he said.
