SHAH ALAM: The government has never interfered in any decisions involving the judiciary, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated. However, he emphasized that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that those appointed to the judiciary possess integrity.
Most importantly, he said, they must be individuals who are not involved in business interests or corruption.
“I want to ask, which case have we interfered in? Which decision did I discuss with a judge? None.
For us, the Prime Minister cannot compromise and must not be involved in any court cases,” he said.
Anwar made these remarks during the 18th DAP National Congress at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam on Sunday.
His statement was in response to a resolution by the Malaysian Bar Council on Saturday, which strongly condemned any interference in the judiciary’s independence by the executive branch.
This includes interference by the legislative body, individuals, or entities attempting to override the Constitution and the law in judicial appointments.
The Bar Council stated that this stance aligns with provisions in the Federal Constitution and the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009.
The resolution also urged the government to establish an independent commission to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into remarks made by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat during the Opening of the Legal Year event in January.
Need for Oversight in the Judiciary
Further commenting, Anwar said that independent oversight of the judiciary is necessary to ensure a system of checks and balances.
“I do not interfere, and there are other processes that we discuss.
This does not mean that the Prime Minister and ministers are always right, or that all judges are always right.
There must be oversight, checks, and balances. There must be bodies monitoring the judiciary—are they paying taxes? Are there elements of corruption? Because such issues have happened widely before.
So, every reform must be carried out carefully,” he explained.
– Agency
