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The Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Hamilton' 10th anniversary powers immigration aid fundraiser
Lin-Manuel Miranda plans to use the 10th anniversary Broadway performance of his award-winning cultural phenomenon Hamilton as a fundraiser for a coalition of nonprofits providing immigration services. The Aug 6 performance of Hamilton at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre is expected to raise about US$3mil (RM14mil) for the Immigrants: We Get the Job Done Coalition, 14 nonprofits ranging from the Hispanic Federation and National Immigration Law Center to the Haitian Bridge Alliance and the Tahirih Justice Center. The donation will come from Miranda, the Miranda Family and Miranda Family Fund, and the Hamilton cast. It seemed like a fitting tribute to Hamilton and its inspiration, Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, Miranda told The Associated Press, though he recognises that Hamilton wouldn't have called himself an immigrant. "His narrative in our country kind of mirrors that of an immigrant story,' Miranda said. "He did not grow up here. He didn't come from England. He came from the Caribbean, escaping harsh circumstances. And he really helped shape this country.' Miranda did exclusively reveal some plans for the special, invite-only Hamilton anniversary show and the preshow reception that he will host. Fans already know the possibilities after the special Hamilton medley at the Tonys in June. Even the audience will be "stacked,' he said, since every actor who has ever performed during the show's Broadway run will be invited to be in the audience to watch the show's current Broadway cast that night. "We're working on something special for the curtain call and another nice special thing after that,' Miranda said. "That's about all I can say.' The bulk of the invites have gone to winners selected from a Prizeo sweepstakes, where entrants donated at least US$10 (RM42) to the Immigrants coalition. "One of America's greatest exports - at least for me growing up - was the immigration narrative,' Miranda said. "So many people I know… came to this country from somewhere else seeking a better life and then helped make this country better by being here. And I believe that's one of the greatest promises, one of greatest things about the American experiment, and I'll continue to fight for that and support organisations that are helping that cause.' And the organisations that will benefit from the donations generated by the Hamilton 10th anniversary, better known as #Hamilten, say the donations and encouragement are sorely needed now. Since the start of his second term, President Donald Trump swiftly moved to make good on "Mass Deportation Now!' promises from his campaign. His administration has encouraged US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport people quickly, even to countries where they have never been, in order to rein in illegal immigration. Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda, no relation to Lin-Manuel Miranda, said he is heartened by the more than 125,000 people who have donated to the Hamilton fundraiser. "I think it is the beginning of what could be an incredible movement of philanthropy and individual donors basically saying, 'Enough is enough',' he said. "We have seen it also in the different demonstrations of people around the country where they are expressing their concern and their frustration out in the streets.' Hispanic Federation has already lost millions in federal funding, as the Trump administration cuts support for workplace development initiatives and environmental justice work, Frankie Miranda said. He has also seen some corporations withdraw their financial support because they fear reprisals from the Trump administration. "We need bold ideas like 'Hamilton' where everybody feels that they can stand behind it,' he said. Aarti Kohli, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, another coalition member, said the donations would help her group continue to provide community legal services to individuals, while also pursuing lawsuits like its challenge to the Trump executive order seeking to strip away birthright citizenship from some children born in the United States. "At this time, when so many people are afraid to speak out and support vulnerable communities, Lin-Manuel Miranda being willing to use the 'Hamilton' platform just shows real leadership and bravery,' Kohli said. "And I'm hoping that more donors will step up and support our sector. We are the firewall between authoritarianism and democracy.' Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, said her nonprofit plans to use the donations from the coalition to support its Defending Democracy initiative, which informs immigrants of their rights and uses the law as "a bulwark against unconstitutional actions carried out by this administration.' Matos sees it as a "full circle' moment to use funding generated by "the story of one of our nation's Founding Fathers who himself was an indigent immigrant, who through his own grit, determination and his brilliance, worked his way up.' "He was somebody who thought deeply about this new nation's democracy,' she added. "What better way to honour Hamilton and to express our gratitude for these resources?' For Lin-Manuel Miranda, the fact that people remain fascinated by Hamilton 10 years later also leaves him feeling grateful. And he remains surprised by the resonance of the line "Immigrants: We get the job done,' a line shared in the show by Hamilton and French military officer Marquis de Lafayette at the Battle of Yorktown. "I thought it was no big deal,' he said. "But from the moment it was performed on stage, the audience reaction was so joyous at just the utterance of that simple fact. It's one of the things that just heartens me and gives me hope. In these dark times, it still gets a big cheer.' The cheering still requires the show to add extra measures of music to wait for the audience to calm down before continuing with the song Yorktown. Miranda attributes it to the fact that so many Americans are only one or two generations away from an immigrant. "It's the same reason why that No Kings protest vastly outnumbered the military parade happening on the same day,' he said. "There are still a lot of people who believe in basic decency and treating people who come here - often from really tough situations - with humanity.' - AP
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
'This matter has already been referred to the court,' says Anwar on Najib's house arrest request
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would not intervene in the legal process involving the Titah Adendum related to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's sentence. 'This matter has already been referred to the court,' he said to the media after Friday prayers at Surau Al Istiqlal, Precinct 14. Anwar added that while he understood UMNO's concerns, the judiciary must be allowed to handle the matter independently. 'I am open to meeting with UMNO leadership to provide clarification and help maintain harmony,' he said. Yesterday, 145 UMNO Division Chiefs from across the country — including from Sabah — urged the Prime Minister to take full responsibility and promptly implement the Titah Adendum, which would allow Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. They stressed that the order had already received the consent of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and therefore, there should be no further delay in its enforcement. Last week, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) was reported to have not disputed the existence of the Titah Adendum, said to be a royal decree by the former King permitting Najib to complete his sentence under house arrest. Instead, the AGC questioned the procedure used to submit the royal decree as new evidence in Najib's ongoing judicial review application at the High Court. Najib has been serving his sentence at Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. He filed a royal pardon petition on September 2, 2022. The Pardons Board later reduced his jail term from 12 years to six, while his fine was lowered from RM210 million to RM50 million.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'An independent judiciary is the most valuable asset to any society' - CJ Wan Ahmad Farid
KUALA LUMPUR: Newly appointed Chief Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has previously stressed that the independence of the judiciary must be upheld at all costs. In a written judgment dated June 16, 2022, while serving as a High Court judge, Wan Ahmad Farid said that the absence of judicial independence would lead to anarchy. "This is not a matter of trial and error, because an independent judiciary is the most valuable asset to any society," he wrote. The 62-year-old made the remark when recusing himself from hearing the application by UK Queen's Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw to be admitted to represent Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his final appeal concerning the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. A native of Kuala Terengganu, Wan Ahmad Farid stepped aside voluntarily to avoid any public perception that might undermine confidence in the judiciary's independence, as a close family member was actively involved in Umno at the time. In his written decision, he stressed that public confidence in the judiciary's independence must remain unquestionable. He also said that it was public knowledge that he had been actively involved in politics before joining the judiciary, having previously held administrative roles and served as a Senator. However, he said that upon his judicial appointment, he resigned from his political party and took the oath of office with a firm commitment to uphold, protect, and defend the Federal Constitution without fear or favour. He made the decision to recuse himself despite there being no request from any party to do so. Wan Ahmad Farid holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) from the University of West London (1985) and obtained his Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) with honours from the University of Malaya in 1986. He began his legal career as an advocate and solicitor at the firm Messrs Adnan & Wee in Kuala Terengganu, where he practised from 1987 to 2003. He later entered public service and politics, serving as Political Secretary to then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 2003 to 2008, and was appointed Deputy Home Minister from 2008 to 2009. Between 2011 and 2015, he returned to legal practice at Messrs Wan Farid & Surin in Kuala Lumpur. In his judicial career, Wan Ahmad Farid was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner on Dec 16, 2015, serving in the High Courts of Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, and Kota Baru until 2019. He was elevated to High Court Judge on Aug 8, 2019 and served in the Kota Baru High Court, the Special Powers Division of the Shah Alam High Court, and subsequently in the Kuala Lumpur High Court (Special Powers Division 3) until 2024. On Nov 12, 2024, he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal. On Feb 15, 2024, Wan Ahmad Farid ruled that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's power to declare a state of emergency under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution is non-justiciable, meaning it cannot be subjected to judicial review. In his ruling, he said that although the proclamation was made under Article 150, the provisions of Article 150(8) did not violate the basic structure of the Constitution and therefore could not be struck down under Article 4(1). More recently, on June 24, 2024, he was on the panel of judges that allowed the government and the Federal Territory Land Registrar's appeal to reverse an order transferring 106.542ha of land in Mukim Batu to Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd (SESB). The unanimous ruling, delivered by a three-member Court of Appeal panel chaired by Datuk Lee Swee Seng, also ordered compensation to be paid to SESB, to be assessed by the High Court with the assistance of expert valuation. On March 4, 2024, Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh dismissed an application by the late former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and his family for leave to commence judicial review proceedings against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation into them. He ruled that Daim and his family had failed to demonstrate any element of mala fide (bad faith) on the part of the MACC officers involved in the investigation. On May 11, 2023, he dismissed a judicial review application filed by single mother Loh Siew Hong, who sought to challenge the unilateral conversion of her three children to Islam by her ex-husband, who had embraced the religion. In his ruling, he found no evidence that the children had reverted to Hinduism. He also said that the mother had not denied that her children continued to practise Islam, including performing prayers, while in her care. However, that decision was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal and later upheld by the Federal Court. On May 9, 2023, Wan Ahmad Farid allowed a judicial review application filed by Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, the wife of social activist Amri Che Mat, and ordered the release of the Special Task Force's classified report into his disappearance.
Focus Malaysia
7 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Political past, ‘past-midnight' announcement mar Wan Farid's appointment as new Chief Justice
THAT the Chief Justice post vacancy following the retirement of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has finally been filled by Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh does not seem to augur well with some quarters. According to a statement from the Chief Registrar's Office, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has consented to Wan Farid's appointment at the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in accordance with Article 122B(1) of the Federal Constitution. The 62-yrear-old who was made a Court of Appeal Judge on Nov 12 last year had previously been appointment as a Hugh Court judge on Aug 8, 2019 and a judiciary commissioner 0n Dec 16, 2015. Also named in the statement are Datuk Abu Bakar Jais who would assume the post of Court of Appeal president and Datuk Azizah Nawawi who has been appointed as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. At a glance, the Terengganu-born Wan Farid has experience serving in all three main branches of the government, namely legislative, executive and judicial. This is given he had served ss a Dewan Negara senator (2005-2009) and deputy home minister (2008-2009) prior to being made a High Court judge in 2019. However, the sticking point is that he is seen by detractors as not being apolitical in that he was the Kuala Terengganu UMNO deputy chief in 2001 and had even contested in the Kuala Terengganu state by-election in 2009 but lost. In 2013, Wan Farid, announced that he was retiring from politics. Previous rulings Among his notable rulings was recusing himself from hearing an application to allow a Queen's Counsel (QC) from the UK to represent former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the appeal over the RM42 mil SRC International corruption case. Back then, Wan Farid cited a conflict of interest, noting that a family member was affiliated with Najib's political party. This has apparently given rise to concerns as to whether Wan Farid's past affiliation with UMNO would have bearing in his future judgment given the fact that 'tonnes of Najib cases are coming his way for final appeals' and if 'UMNO may have the upper hand here'. Elsewhere, former DAP Bukit Bintang MP-turned-Madani government critic Wee Choo Keong berated the 'past midnight' revelation of Wan Farid's appointment. 'The announcement was quietly slipped out after midnight at about 12:15am (July 18) on Instagram. In a few minutes it was removed! A few minutes later it was reposted!' he penned on X while praising Wan Farid for having 'a good judicial temperament & being a good judge'. YAA Datuk Wan Farid Bin Wan Salleh is now Chief Justice — but the announcement was quietly slipped out after midnight at about 12:15 am on Instagram. In a few minutes it was removed! A few minutes later it was reposted! This is a disgrace. A top judicial appointment deserves… — Wee Choo Keong (@weechookeong) July 17, 2025 'This is a disgrace. A top judicial appointment deserves transparency, not a stealth drop. Someone, somewhere is making a mockery of this crucial post!' Moving forward, the presentation of letters of appointment, oath-taking and signing of the oath of office and oath of allegiance ceremony before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be held on July 28 at Istana Negara. – July 18, 2025
The Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Abu Bakar Jais appointed as new Court of Appeal President
KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Court judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais has been appointed as the new President of the Court of Appeal, replacing Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim who retired on July 3. Abu Bakar, 63, brings with him over three decades of experience in legal and judicial service. He began his judicial career as a Judicial Commissioner at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 8, 2013. He was then appointed as a High Court Judge on March 21, 2016, and served in both the Kuala Lumpur and Seremban High Courts until 2019. On Dec 5, 2019, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal, and later to the Federal Court on June 13, 2023. Born in Muar, Johor, Abu Bakar graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Universiti Malaya (1982–1986) and later obtained a Certificate in Government Legal Advisers Course from the University of London in 1996. His career spans various roles in the legal and judicial sectors, including stints as a law tutor at the International Islamic University Malaysia (1986-1987), Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney General's Chambers and the Anti-Corruption Agency (1987-1990), Magistrate in Ipoh (1990), and Assistant Director at the Legal Aid Bureau (1991). Abu Bakar also served as Federal Counsel in the Civil Division of the Attorney General's Chambers (1992-1995) and as Senior Federal Counsel until 2000. In private practice, he was a litigation partner at Zaid Ibrahim & Co. (2001–2003) and later at Hisham, Sobri & Kadir (2004–2013). Abu Bakar was part of the Federal Court panel in 2023 that ruled on former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's application for a review of his conviction and 12-year prison sentence over the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. He also sat on the panel that decided the appeal involving SIS Forum (Malaysia). - Bernama
