A group of PKR MPs led by former economy minister Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli, called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the current allegations surrounding judicial appointments.
KUALA LUMPUR (July 7): A group of PKR lawmakers led by former economy minister Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations surrounding judicial appointments.
The commission would also have to look into all the allegations now in the public domain, including a meeting of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) allegedly held last Friday without the required 10-day notice period, according to a joint statement from the nine backbenchers.
“If a senior judicial appointment is made (in a meeting) that was not convened according to legal procedures, the appointment could be challenged,” Rafizi warned at a press conference after reading out the statement with some of the members of Parliament (MPs) in attendance.
Further, the commission should also investigate a purported police report filed by a Federal Court judge over the leak of information from a JAC proceeding, said the backbenchers that form nearly one-third of the total PKR MPs in Parliament.
“These new revelations continue to fuel speculation that could tarnish the government’s credibility and erode public confidence in the judiciary’s independence in the future,” the statement read.
The statement was signed by Rafizi (Pandan), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Wong Chen (Subang), Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau), Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang), S Kesavan (Sungai Siput), and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat).
The call from the backbenchers follows the government’s decision not to extend the tenures of former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, both who retired in July upon reaching their mandatory retirement age.
Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Hasnah Mohamed Hashim has since assumed the duties of Chief Justice, while Federal Court judge Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof has taken over responsibilities as the President of the Court of Appeal.
“What began as a matter of vacancies in key judicial positions has now become a constitutional crisis as more credible but unverified information surfaces,” the MPs noted.
They would write to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform to initiate proceedings, including summoning Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to testify.
Current judicial vacancies should be filled based on previous JAC nominations, with no new nominations made until the matter is resolved, the MPs noted.
In addition, they plan to launch a multi-party campaign to garner support from MPs across political lines, organise a series of public forums nationwide, and initiate an online petition to rally public support for judicial independence.