PUTRAJAYA (Sept 15): In the wake of revelations by former High Court judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid Syed Abdullah about alleged wrongdoing in the judiciary in 1996, Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said things are better now, as he has not received any complaints that judges under his leadership were corrupt or lacked integrity.
Following a court proceeding honouring three former chief justices and one former chief judge of Malaya who have passed away, Wan Ahmad Farid was asked about concerns raised by Syed Ahmad Idid regarding alleged wrongdoing in the judiciary in 1996.
He was also asked whether the judiciary under his leadership is free from corruption and maintains high integrity.
“No, I cannot say for sure (that we are free from corruption). I cannot guarantee anything, but so far, so good. I have not heard anything, you know, even resembling what he said happened in 1996, about 30 years ago.
“So, I hope, you know, things are getting better,” Wan Ahmad Farid replied.
During a recent interview with The Edge, Syed Ahmad Idid said that in 1996, he was forced to resign as a High Court judge after authorities discovered a letter he had written containing 112 allegations of corruption, abuse of power, misconduct and other wrongdoing in the judiciary.
He also revealed details about a trip to New Zealand involving then-senior lawyer Datuk VK Lingam and former chief justice Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin. He called for better protection for whistle-blowers.
Tuesday’s court reference was held in honour of former chief justices Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin, Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah and Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, as well as former chief judge of Malaya Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob.
CJ: Syed Ahmad Idid should take up pension plea with Public Service Department
When asked whether the present judiciary could support Syed Ahmad Idid in seeking the restoration of his pension, Wan Ahmad Farid replied that the matter was beyond the judiciary’s powers.
“This is within the powers of the Public Service Department (PSD). He has to apply to the PSD and PSD has to decide accordingly. So, it is beyond us. We cannot decide who gets the pension or cannot get pension, as that is within the PSD’s jurisdiction,” he said.
Malaysian Bar president Anand Raj, in a statement responding to The Edge article, said restoring Syed Ahmad Idid’s pension cannot return the years taken from him.
“It can, however, affirm a principle indispensable to an independent judiciary and the rule of law, that integrity must not be punished and that the judiciary must be, and remain, steadfast in upholding the rule of law and incorruptible,” the Malaysian Bar said.
Anand said the present government now has a historic opportunity to repudiate the past and enable the nation to progress.
“The Malaysian Bar urges the government to do the right and honourable thing (restore Syed Ahmad Idid’s pension),” he said.