Latest news with #ZaidIbrahim
Malaysiakini
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Zaid decries 'Trumpian politics' in Malaysia
'Trumpian politics', a term derived from US President Donald Trump, is characterised by the distortion of truth, the abuse of power, and the manipulation of public perception. According to former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, this is no longer an American phenomenon. 'It has...
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- 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.
Malaysiakini
7 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Zaid's call for PM to resign misguided
MP SPEAKS | Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim's recent call for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to step down while the Federal Court deliberates on a constitutional reference concerning civil immunity is not only premature, it is constitutionally incoherent and politically irresponsible. His suggestion undermines basic legal principles and reflects a troubling disregard for the separation of powers. Zaid's commentary ignores the legal basis and function of the constitutional questions referred under Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution. The prime minister has sought clarity on whether, in light of Articles 39, 40, and 43, civil litigation based on...
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Addiction to money a bigger problem than religion, says Zaid
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said the suggestion of G25 member Johan Ariffin for a decoupling of religion from politics is too impractical to implement. PETALING JAYA : Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim today responded to remarks on corruption and religion by a member of the G25 group of prominent retired civil servants, saying the main problem in Malaysia is a general 'addiction' to money. Johan Ariffin had called for a decoupling of religion from politics, arguing that religiosity had proven to be an insufficient deterrent against corruption. In a post on X today, Zaid said that while Johan might be right, his suggestion was too impractical to implement. 'Religion, with proper application, can make us a better country. Our problem is not (mainly) religion; it is that politicians and our elites are addicted to money. 'We have entrusted our ruling class with curbing corruption, but they will not do that because they also like a lot of money,' he said. Earlier today, FMT reported Johan as saying that Malay leaders often projected a keen sense of religiosity, but consistently scored low on clean governance measures. He said these politicians used race and religion to 'shield, justify or deflect wrongdoing'. Johan also said the Malays remained entrenched in a 'feudal mindset, where loyalty to race, religion, and rulers supersedes critical thinking and moral accountability'. However, Zaid said Malaysian politics was about making money, and that its elites 'compete (about) who makes more money from the system'. He said the lack of a genuine political funding law or measures to ensure transparency in procurement showed the elites' disinterest in curbing corruption.
Malaysiakini
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Zaid asks if Asean Muslim leaders will match China on Gaza
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim today questioned whether Asean Muslim leaders will take any proactive action to help the people of Gaza, as China has done. Taking to Twitter, Zaid also directed veiled sarcasm towards Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom he did not name explicitly but referred to as 'a well-known Muslim leader from Malaysia' who is chairing the Asean Summit, and is often portrayed as one of the most influential Muslims globally.
