KUALA LUMPUR (July 8): Malaysian Bar president Mohd Ezri Abdul Wahab confirmed that the “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence” will happen next Monday (July 14) and repeated the Bar's call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into possible interference in the judiciary.

In a circular issued on Tuesday, Ezri said that recent events have heightened the Bar’s concerns, and it had therefore notified members on July 1, with regard to an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) scheduled for July 26.

“Accordingly, acting under the mandate given by members via the Resolution on the Judiciary and the Malaysian Bar, adopted at the 79th Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Bar held on March 15 this year, and our statutory duties, we call upon members to join us in a peaceful walk from the Palace of Justice (POJ) to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Putrajaya on July 14.

“This is to hand over a memorandum, where the Malaysian Bar calls upon judicial positions to be filled, to reiterate our call for the immediate release of the relevant Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting minutes, and to call for urgent and immediate inquiries into whether or not there was interference in judicial affairs — as was recently referred to in the media.

“Thirdly, to renew our call for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate whether or not there was any interference with the judiciary, as referred to in the speech by the former chief justice of Malaysia Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat at the Opening of the Legal Year 2025, and by a report lodged by an aide to a senior judge over a news portal’s allegation.

“Fourthly, we also urge that the numerous vacancies in the judiciary, which has led to the fixing of some cases for hearing as late as 2030, resulting in significant delays, be filled, as it is a denial of justice, and to prevent a looming crisis that must be averted,” Ezri said in the circular.

The circular issued on Tuesday confirmed The Edge’s report on Monday (July 7) over the reported Walk for Judicial Independence mooted by the Bar, scheduled for July 14 at the POJ.

Ezri said the vacancies for judges must be filled by judges of impeccable character, integrity, unblemished reputation, judicial experience and acumen as measured and demonstrated by a record of quality, consistency and clarity in decision making and written judgements, and who command the respect of their peers on the bench, at the Bar, and the Malaysian public. 

The president of the Malaysian Bar said the POJ is a symbolic starting point, as it is at “the very heart of our judicial system, where justice is dispensed”.

“The institution of the judiciary must be defended! Walking from the POJ to the PMO — a walk of some 2,600 metres straight — would demonstrate the commitment of the Malaysian Bar to judicial independence and integrity,” he said.

Ezri said the 2pm gathering would be held at the POJ entrance facing Perbadanan Putrajaya, and lawyers attending should wear the chamber’s attire.

The present crisis in the judiciary stems from the non-extension of six-month periods to the top two posts, namely that of Tengku Maimun and her deputy, the president of the Court of Appeal, Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, as allowed by the Federal Constitution and despite it being the normal practice.

Tengku Maimun had at the Opening of the Legal Year in January, cautioned the present and future governments to ensure that the judiciary remains independent, in light of the 1988 judicial crisis.

Furthermore, there are also allegations of a senior judge — purportedly involved in judicial interference — who was called by the JAC for questioning. The alleged leak of this JAC meeting had resulted in a police report being made by the senior judge’s aide, against the news portal.

On Monday, nine PKR members of Parliament (MPs), led by its former deputy president Datuk Rafizi Ramli, who is also the Pandan MP, called for the establishment of an RCI on judicial appointments.

Besides Rafizi, the other MPs who backed the statement were 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 Attorney General’s Chambers on Tuesday had also issued a statement downplaying the formation of an RCI, saying calls for investigations into judicial appointments were unwarranted.

Read also:
Walk for judicial independence scheduled for July 14, sanctioned by Bar Council
PKR MPs led by Rafizi call for Royal Commission of Inquiry on judicial appointments
AGC says call for investigations into judicial appointments unwarranted
CJ hopes Anwar and future govt remain committed to upholding judicial independence