Lawyer Joy Wilson Appukuttan, who is representing Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer, said the hearing scheduled for Oct 22 at the Palace of Justice here had been adjourned to a date to be fixed.

“I received a letter three days ago from Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who is also the Judges’ Ethics Committee chairman, on the adjournment due to the CMCO,” he said.

Joy said the chairman also notified him that from now on all matters relating to the legal action filed by Hamid should be directed to the civil division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Hamid filed an originating summons in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 9 to seek direction in relation to an affidavit filed early last year to support a suit by Sangeet Kaur Deo, and a judgment he delivered four months ago in a criminal appeal case.

Hamid posed a question as to whether the judgment and the affidavit he affirmed last year could be subjected to an investigation by the committee.

In the meantime, he wants the committee to suspend the scheduled proceedings on Oct 22 pending the outcome of his suit.

Case management will be held before High Court judge Mariana Yahya on Nov 4.

At an international conference in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, Hamid alleged there had been judicial interference in several high profile cases.

It led to a suit against the chief justice early last year by Sangeet, accusing the top judge of failing to defend and preserve the integrity of the judiciary.

In August, FMT reported that the committee had issued Hamid a show cause notice over the affidavit and judgment.

Hamid, among other things, had said in the judgment that the judiciary was expected to act as a check and balance on the executive and legislature, as provided for under the Federal Constitution.

On Sept 8, Hamid replied to the show cause notice, which sources told FMT was quite explosive, where the judge stood by the entire contents of the affidavit and also a 101-page judgment he delivered in early June.