Anwar brushes aside furore over judicial appointments

Free Malaysia Today

7 days ago

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was repeatedly criticised last week over the issue of judicial appointments when he was merely allowing the constitutional process to proceed. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today brushed aside the recent furore over his alleged interference in the appointment of judges, saying the episode has been conclusively resolved following an official announcement made last week.
Commenting on accusations that he was interfering in the appointment of judges, Anwar said these may have stemmed from 'false information' coming out from the judiciary.
'I believe that there have been elements within the judiciary who leaked and spread these false stories. Never mind, that's their problem,' he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
However, he played down the matter, saying the controversy had since dissipated.
'Alhamdulillah, no one is saying anything now, though I was repeatedly criticised last week. Now it has all been resolved,' he said.
A document allegedly containing excerpts from the Judicial Appointments Commission's (JAC) May meeting minutes went viral earlier this month, suggesting that then chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had raised concerns about the integrity of a superior court judge.
Claims were made that the judge in question had once attempted to influence the outcome of a case in favour of a specific party, and had sought the transfer of a fellow judge for holding a differing view.
An aide to the judge filed a police report urging the authorities to investigate how the information was leaked. Police are probing the alleged leak under the Official Secrets Act and two other laws.
On June 30, Anwar said there appeared to be a campaign to pressure the government to either extend or end specific tenures, which he warned could politicise institutions meant to remain independent.
Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh was named the new chief justice last week, and is expected to take over the post on a permanent basis beginning July 28.
Justice Abu Bakar Jais was appointed Court of Appeal president, while Justice Azizah Nawawi was made chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
Candidate for judicial posts presented much earlier
Anwar said he had proposed the appointment of Wan Ahmad Farid as chief justice much earlier, denying rumours of a last-minute change in candidate.
He also said he had proposed the appointments of eight Court of Appeal and 14 High Court judges about two months ago.
The prime minister said certain parties understood the constitutional process of judicial appointments but chose to twist the facts and mislead others.
'The candidate's name was presented (to the king) earlier, before all the 'noise' surfaced. We were just waiting for the Conference of Rulers to meet on July 15 and July 16.
'Everything was according to the set process. No one can preempt the Agong or the consultations with the Conference of Rulers,' he said.
Anwar also cited Article 122B of the constitution, which states that judicial appointments are made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.