Malaysian Bar hands memo on judicial independence to PMO
Lawyers, including leading figures from the Malaysian Bar, staged a 'Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence' on Monday (July 14) afternoon, proceeding from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister's Office.
The event was attended by members of the Bar, chambers and concerned members of the public, according to Ezri.
ALSO READ: Crowd gathers for 'Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence'
He said the memorandum was handed to Datuk Zamri Misman, the director-general of the Legal Affairs Division.
'Datuk Zamri was ready and waiting in the office earlier, and has acknowledged receipt of the memorandum,' he told a press conference here on Monday (July 14).
'We saw participation from members of the Bar and people in chambers and members of the public, all united in our call to address the pressing concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary, particularly the ongoing vacancies in the judiciary, the need for institutional continuity and a more transparent and accountable judicial appointment process.'
ALSO READ: Malaysian Bar's walk aimed at defending judicial integrity, not about politics
Ezri stressed that the walk's purpose was to uphold the independence of the judiciary, describing it as a prerequisite for a robust democratic system.
He expressed concern over recent media and social media commentary, urging the government 'to resolve it as soon as possible'.
Highlighting specific concerns raised in the memorandum, he pointed out the alarming judicial vacancies.
'Among the matters raised is the need to fill the existing vacancies in the judiciary… we were informed that some cases have been scheduled as far ahead as the year 2030, and this will disrupt the functioning of the courts and negatively affect clients,' he said.
He confirmed that the memorandum will also be delivered to the Prime Minister.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Editorial: Asean diplomacy delivers triumphantly
Working towards peace: Anwar with Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (left) at the ceasefire meeting. The groundwork for that had already been laid by a closed door gathering among foreign ministers last month arranged by Mohamad. — IZZUDIN ABD RAZAK/Prime Minister's Office THE ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after nearly a week of armed hostilities along their shared border, is a welcome development for a region desperate to hold onto its stability. We commend Anwar, this year's Asean Chair, for acting swiftly to bring the two sides together to reach an agreement in Putrajaya last Monday. Hundreds of thousands had fled their homes and dozens had died. That the guns have now fallen silent is no small achievement. It was, in Anwar's own words in Jakarta a day later, a 'triumph for all of Asean'. Indeed, the outcome is a reminder of what personal diplomacy can accomplish where institutional mechanisms fall short. No Asean conflict resolution frameworks were invoked; there was no shuttle diplomacy by the Asean Chair's special envoy; no invocation of the High Council under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Instead, it was Anwar's relationships, including longstanding ties to both Hun Sen in Cambodia and Thaksin Shinawatra's faction in Thailand, that made the difference. As Chair of Asean, it was within his prerogative to act, and act he did. We do not view this as a failure of Asean, but rather as an opportunity to reflect on the limits of our current instruments. As a community, Asean must not let its cohesion depend solely on interpersonal familiarity among elites. The next crisis may not afford us such good fortune. It is our hope that Asean leaders take stock of this episode and commit to strengthening the region's formal dispute settlement architecture; not merely to avoid conflict, but to deepen our sense of shared responsibility. Asean's credibility depends on peace among its members. When neighbours go to war, even briefly, the region's attractiveness to investors suffers, and our centrality in the Indo-Pacific order is thrown into question. Yet even as we mark this diplomatic breakthrough, the challenges ahead remain daunting. Reports emerged barely 24 hours after the ceasefire went into effect that both sides had already accused each other of fresh violations. This is, sadly, to be expected. Armies act according to their own logic. It is precisely why we should not entrust the burden of peace to soldiers alone. What we need is a lasting political commitment, supported by trusted civilian institutions, to make peace not just possible, but permanent. The fragility of the current truce speaks to a broader global trend. As one analyst noted in a recent commentary in The Diplomat, we appear to be living in an 'age of ceasefires', a time when conflicts are paused, not resolved, and diplomacy seeks to contain rather than to transform. The war in Ukraine, the unfathomable violence in Gaza, and now the clashes in our own backyard, have all fallen into this pattern. The Financial Times, writing on the neighbourly conflict, described it as a symptom of structural failure: A lack of shared norms, functional forums, and enforceable rules. Certainly, the structures are there; they are merely left unenforced. If we in Asean accept this trend as inevitable, we will only ever reach for the lowest common denominator in moments of crisis. We will settle for fragile pauses instead of forging durable peace. This would be a disservice to the generations who built Asean on the promise of mutual respect, non-violence, and shared prosperity. Let us not squander that legacy. Let us use this ceasefire, not as an endpoint, but as a chance to recommit to a regional order anchored in principles, not personalities. Only then can Asean truly claim to be a community, not just of governments, but of peoples. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Senegal unveils economic, social recovery plan
DAKAR, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Senegal launched a national economic and social recovery plan on Friday, aimed at addressing domestic structural challenges and responding to concerns from international partners. Speaking at the official launch ceremony in Dakar, the country's capital, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called on citizens to support the plan, known in Wolof (a West African language spoken mainly in Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania) as "Jubanti Komm," noting that the benefits "will go directly to the people." Faye stressed the importance of national self-reliance in overcoming difficulties. He also said international partners have been awaiting a clear stance from the new administration on how it intends to address the existing challenges in the country. Abdourahmane Sarr, Senegal's minister of economy, planning and cooperation, explained that the plan, developed by a task force under the Prime Minister's Office, aims to restore the country's fiscal sovereignty and rebuild investor confidence. According to Sarr, the recovery plan will serve as a foundation for achieving the economic and social goals outlined in "Vision Senegal 2050" and the macroeconomic framework of the 2025-2029 five-year plan. He emphasized that the reform of public finances will be carried out without harming the private sector and will focus on serving the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Economic highlights of the 13th Malaysia Plan 2026-2030
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received the 13MP document from Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya. - Photo: AFIQ HAMBALI / Prime Minister's Office KUALA LUMPUR: The following are the economic highlights of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026-2030 which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament today, with the theme "Melakar Semua Pembangunan' (Redesigning Development).' - Investments of RM611 billion required to successfully implement 13MP - Development allocation from the government is estimated at RM430 billion, with RM227 billion to be channelled to the economic sector. - Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is targeted at 4.5-5.5 per cent annually, to be led by domestic demand, particularly private consumption and investment - Average real private investment is expected to grow by 6.0 per cent per year, while average real public investment is projected to grow by 3.6 per cent per year. - RM120 billion will be allocated for national development investment for 2026-2030. - The federal government's fiscal deficit is expected to gradually decrease to below 3.0 per cent of GDP, with government debt not exceeding 60 per cent of GDP. - The average inflation rate is expected to remain stable between 2.0 per cent and 3.0 per cent annually. - Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is targeted to increase to RM77,200. - Gross exports are expected to grow by 5.8 per cent annually, with broader trade opportunities. - Gross imports are expected to moderate to 6.1 per cent per year from 2026-2030, compared to 14.4 per cent during the first four years of 12MP. - The trade balance is expected to remain positive at RM116.3 billion, with a current account surplus of 2.2 per cent of GNI by 2030. - Malaysia aims for Electrical & Electronics product exports to approach RM1 trillion by 2030. - The government targets to increase halal export value to RM80 billion, with the halal industry contributing 11 per cent to GDP by 2030. - The manufacturing sector is projected to grow by 5.8 per cent per year. - RM61 billion will be allocated for development projects under public-private partnership (PPP). - The services sector is projected to grow by 5.2 per cent per year. - The agriculture sector is expected to grow by 1.5 per cent per year. - The mining and quarrying sector is projected to expand by 2.8 per cent annually from 2026-2030, supported by increased production of natural gas and crude oil. - By 2030, Malaysia aspires to become a high-income nation and be among the world's top 30 economies. - Malaysia must rise quickly to lead in technology and produce world-class 'Made by Malaysia' products and services by 2030. - Malaysia sets a direction to lead the Southeast Asian economy in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, and renewable energy, aspiring to be an influential global player. - The National AI Action Plan 2030 will drive talent development, research, and commercialisation of technology to support broad AI adoption. - Implementation of NIMP 2030 (New Industrial Master Plan), NSS (National Science Strategy), and NETR (National Energy Transition Roadmap) will be intensified in 13MP to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth. - The government is considering nuclear energy as one of the clean, competitive, and safe energy sources. - Malaysia targets to increase the share of installed capacity to 35 per cent by 2030 from 29 per cent at present. - The government is committed to accelerating the development of the rare earth industry, in cooperation with state governments. - The government will strengthen the green economy through various initiatives. - Focus will be placed on strengthening economic integration through Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and resuming Malaysia-EU (European Union) negotiations. - Malaysia's participation in FTAs such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and Malaysia-Turkey FTA (MTFTA) will be enhanced to expand markets and strengthen trade relations. - Malaysia will continue to leverage BRICS and ASEAN to reduce dependency on existing trade partners. - Bernama
