Latest news with #JudicialAppointmentsCommission
Malay Mail
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Lawyer drops Judicial Appointments Commission court challenge after Azalina signals reform
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Lawyer Datuk Syed Amir Syakib Arsalan Syed Ibrahim today dropped his court case which sought to challenge the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), just months after filing it. In a press statement today, Syed Amir Syakib Arsalan said he was withdrawing the case, as the government recently said it was willing to look into reforms on how judges are appointed in Malaysia. 'This decision follows recent public statements by the Honourable Minister of Law and Institutional Reform, YB Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who has acknowledged that the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 ('JAC Act') is open to improvement and that the government is willing to engage with all stakeholders in efforts to reform and strengthen the legislative framework governing judicial appointments. 'Given the government's clear position and willingness to address the concerns raised, I am of the view that the constitutional challenge is no longer necessary at this juncture,' he said in his statement. 'With the recent appointments of the Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal having been completed in accordance with Article 122B of the Constitution, I am also satisfied that there is no immediate prejudice or uncertainty affecting the leadership of the judiciary,' he also said later in the same statement. Syed Amir Syakib Arsalan had on April 8 filed his lawsuit against the Malaysian government and the JAC. In his lawsuit, he had wanted the courts to invalidate both the JAC and the JAC Act 2009. He had also wanted a court order for the prime minister to follow the constitutional process for the appointment of judges without what he described as 'interference' by the JAC. Previously, he had also applied to bring 16 questions on constitutional law to the Federal Court. Both the main court challenge and the lawyer's bid to refer the 16 constitutional questions to the Federal Court have not been heard yet, and both have now been dropped. Last Wednesday, the High Court reportedly scheduled September 11 to hear the Malaysian Bar's application to get the JAC's meeting minutes from January 2023 until now, before it hears the application to refer the constitutional questions. In announcing his dropping of the entire court challenge today, Syed Amir Syakib Arsalan said he had filed the lawsuit 'in good faith' to test whether the JAC Act is valid constitutionally, to raise awareness of its alleged structural shortcomings, and to encourage public discussion on the need for institutional safeguards that are consistent with the Constitution. He urged the Malaysian government to study the questions he had raised about the process to appoint judges in Malaysia, as well as whether the Federal Constitution needs to be amended to align the JAC framework with the country's constitutional structure and values. When contacted by Malay Mail, Syed Amir Syakib Arsalan's lawyer Daniel Annamalai confirmed that his client had today filed in court for the case to be discontinued and withdrawn.
Malaysiakini
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
No last-minute switch in judicial appointments, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim denied last-minute changes in the list of judicial appointment nominations submitted to the Conference of Rulers. He said he had followed the process under the Federal Constitution, expressing his belief that the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) should not be politicised. "In the (Conference of Rulers') meeting, the name we proposed...
Malaysiakini
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
No last-minute switch in judicial appointments, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim denied last-minute changes in the list of judicial appointment nominations submitted to the Conference of Rulers. He said he had followed the process under the Federal Constitution, expressing his belief that the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) should not be politicised. "In the (Conference of Rulers') meeting, the name we proposed...
Malay Mail
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Anwar denies last-minute switch in CJ pick, says vilified for one week just because process was still ongoing
PUTRAJAYA, July 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly denied claims of a last-minute change in the proposed candidate for Chief Justice. He said today that the appointment had already been submitted and approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong earlier in accordance with the Federal Constitution. 'They said the [judicial] system was compromised. There were those who wanted to politicise the issue,' he said at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department as quoted by New Straits Times. 'For a week, we were criticised, with claims that the prime minister did not respond. How could I respond at that time when the [judicial appointment] process was still ongoing?' He explained that under Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, the appointment of the Chief Justice requires the prime minister's recommendation and the King's consent after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. Court of Appeal Judge Wan Ahmad Farid will be sworn in as the country's 17th Chief Justice on July 28, succeeding Tengku Maimun, who retired on July 2. Datuk Abu Bakar Jais has been appointed as the new president of the Court of Appeal, while Datuk Azizah Nawawi has been appointed Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. Anwar said earlier this week that 8 newly appointed Court of Appeal judges and 14 High Court judges are scheduled to be sworn in on July 28, with no judges removed. The appointments came following a purported leak from a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting, which came hot on the heels of allegations that there had been attempts to influence the appointments of new judges. The claim later prompted nine government backbenchers to call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry, with Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail confirming an investigation into the matter.
New Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar: I kept silent out of respect for judicial appointment process
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he refrained from commenting on the appointment of the Chief Justice and other senior judges out of respect for the judicial selection process. He added that this was part of observing a system of checks and balances as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. "For a week, the opposition attacked me, calling me a destroyer of the judiciary. But which judge have I removed? Who has been dismissed? None," he said. Anwar said he remained silent because the appointment process required the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. "I receive the names from the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), evaluate them, submit them to the King, and upon His Majesty's approval, they are discussed at the Conference of Rulers. "Only after I meet with the Rulers to provide an explanation, and the King gives his consent, can I respond," he said. Anwar was speaking at the launch of the Bumiputera Master Plan, Tunas Madani, and the JKP Sdn Bhd Housing Project at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang today. Yesterday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice. According to a statement from the Chief Registrar's Office, the decision was made based on the advice of the prime minister and after consulting the Conference of Rulers, in line with Article 122B(1) of the Federal Constitution. His Majesty also approved the appointments of Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as President of the Court of Appeal, and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, replacing the current officeholder who is set to retire. The appointment and oath-taking ceremony will take place on July 28, 2025, at Istana Negara.
