Bar Council convenes EGM to debate judiciary resolutions
Bar Council chairman Ezri Abdul Wahab will table the "Motion for Judicial Independence."
Prominent rights lawyers Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Surendra Ananth will jointly propose a motion to hold the Prime Minister accountable for allowing the undermining of public confidence in the judiciary.
A third motion, titled "Implementing a Fair Rate of Minimum Remuneration for Pupils," has been put forward by lawyers Goh Cia Yee and Vince Tan.
Meanwhile, former Bar Council member Salim Bashir told the New Straits Times: "Judicial independence is a cornerstone of every democratic nation," stressing the importance of the gathering.
He added, "The upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM) reflects the Bar's commitment to protecting the rule of law and preventing any erosion of judicial independence."
Salim said the meeting "is a critical call for the government to uphold constitutional governance and the separation of powers, and to take necessary steps to restore public confidence in the judiciary."
"I hope many members will turn up at the EGM, as their participations are crucial," he added.
The Malaysian Bar has around 24,000 members, and at least 500 must attend the meeting to meet the quorum requirement.
Bar secretary Murshidah Mustafa has circulated the motions to members ahead of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM), which will be held at 10am at Matrade Hall, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.
The meeting comes in the wake of major developments within the judiciary.
On July 14, a group of lawyers marched outside the Palace of Justice to defend the judiciary's integrity.
The Bar Council submitted a memorandum to the government.
The memorandum urged the appointment of judicial leaders with proven integrity and a track record of sound judgments. It also called for judicial vacancies to be filled promptly to prevent delays in court proceedings.
Last Friday, the Chief Registrar's Office confirmed the appointments of three top judicial figures, ending days of speculation over the leadership reshuffle within the country's judiciary.
According to the statement, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of Malaysia, in accordance with Article 122B(1) of the Federal Constitution.
Datuk Abu Bakar Jais has been named as President of the Court of Appeal, while Datuk Azizah Nawawi has been appointed Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
All three judges will be sworn in and receive their letters of appointment at Istana Negara on July 28.
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