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Free Malaysia Today
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Over 400 Bar members gather for judicial independence walk
Rally participants at the Palace of Justice, preparing to proceed to the Prime Minister's Office. PUTRAJAYA : Over 400 members of the Malaysian Bar gathered outside the Palace of Justice this afternoon for a symbolic march to defend the integrity of the judiciary. Dressed in black suits and white shirts, the lawyers held up placards and chanted slogans before commencing their walk to the Prime Minister's Office at 2.30pm. Notable figures spotted at the rally included former Bar presidents Ambiga Sreenevasan and Karen Cheah, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, former attorney-general Tommy Thomas and former Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim. The rally was organised following the Bar's call for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry into alleged interference in judicial appointments, which the legal body says poses a serious threat to the doctrine of separation of powers and the rule of law. Participants began assembling at 2pm, preparing to proceed to the Prime Minister's Office where they are expected to hand over a memorandum outlining their concerns and demands. The memorandum's four demands include having judicial leadership positions filled by judges of integrity with proven track records of quality and clear judgments; and having multiple vacancies in the judiciary filled up quickly to prevent delays to the hearing of court cases. The Judicial Appointments Commission has listed 31 vacancies which have yet to be filled, including the posts vacated by former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and former Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, both of whom retired earlier this month. Besides the top two posts, the Federal Court has two vacancies for judges while the Court of Appeal has three and the High Court, 24.
The Star
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Prominent figures join 'Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence'
PUTRAJAYA: Top legal figures including former Bar Council presidents and politicians have been seen at the "Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence" in front of the Palace of Justice on Monday (July 14). Among them are former Bar Council presidents Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Karen Cheah, and lawyer Siti Kasim. Perikatan chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan is also present. When asked if he was there as a lawyer or to represent PAS, the PAS secretary-general said he was attending in both capacities. Former Senate president Tan Sri Rais Yatim was also seen at the walk. The Malaysian Bar clarified earlier on Monday that its "Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence"—a march from the Palace of Justice (POJ) to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to submit a memorandum—is not politically motivated, even as reports suggest other groups may participate. The circular further stated that representatives from the PMO will be present to receive the memorandum after the 2.6km walk from the POJ to the PMO, where the event is scheduled to begin at 2pm.
Free Malaysia Today
01-06-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Zaid, 2 others lose defamation suit against Malaysian Bar
The High Court ruled that Zaid Ibrahim and two others had failed to prove their case against the defendants on a balance of probabilities. KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court has dismissed a libel suit filed by Zaid Ibrahim and two others against a former Malaysian Bar president over her statement on their conduct during Najib Razak's final appeal in the SRC International case. Justice Roz Mawar Rozain said the former law minister, who is now a lawyer, and counsel Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam had failed to prove their case against the defendants on a balance of probabilities. 'The statement had not lowered their reputation in the eyes of an ordinary person,' Roz Mawar said in her oral judgment read out in court today. She also dismissed the plaintiffs' suit for conspiracy to injure and breach of statutory duty under the Legal Profession Act 1976. Lawyer Andrew Chiew, who appeared for the Bar and its then president, Karen Cheah, did not ask for costs. 'We are extending the olive branch and hope the matter ends here,' he said. Roz Mawar said while the defendants were magnanimous, nothing could stop the plaintiffs from appealing the case. Zaid, Liew and Mathiavaranam had on Sept 30, 2022, filed the suit against the Bar and Cheah for allegedly defaming them over their conduct in the appeal. They claim that a media statement, which Cheah issued on Aug 19, 2022 titled 'Abuse of process brings disrepute to our justice system', implied that they had 'undermined the justice system through unscrupulous strategies'. The statement was published by several media organisations on the same day, they said. The plaintiffs said the words in the press statement were calculated to 'disparage, besmirch and damn' them in their professional capacities as advocates and solicitors having conduct of appeals and applications in the Federal Court. Najib had on July 25, 2002 appointed Zaid's law firm to replace Shafee & Co as solicitors in his final SRC International criminal appeal before the Federal Court, with Hisyam Teh Poh Teik replacing Shafee Abdullah as lead counsel. Roz Mawar said the press statement did identify the plaintiffs and was published, but did not establish that the words, in their natural and ordinary meaning, were defamatory. She said the plaintiffs themselves had, before the publication, made multiple public disclosures, including press interviews, social media postings and commentaries. 'They had admitted their lack of readiness, criticising prior counsel and seeking adjournments which were ultimately refused by the Federal Court,' she said. Roz Mawar said she found that by Aug 19, 2022, the reputational position of the plaintiffs had already been shaped by facts in the public domain. She said the court also found no evidence to support the plaintiffs' claim of conspiracy to injure. 'There is no actionable breach (of statutory duty) or specific compensable loss that has been proven to flow from the alleged breach,' she said.
