PH stated its support for Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who said yesterday that recent criticisms and allegations levelled against the judiciary, which have had to deal with high profile cases, had “gone overboard”.
PH reminded Putrajaya that the judiciary’s independence was included in their memorandum of understanding (MoU), describing this as key to a judicial system trusted by the people.
“Therefore, we urge the federal government to guarantee that enforcement agencies do not breach the Federal Constitution and always respect the principle of judicial independence,” it said in a statement.
The statement was signed by PH chairman and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Yesterday, Tengku Maimun said there had been an overdose of attacks employing unsubstantiated allegations against the judiciary of late, although judges were subjected to criticism and accountable to those they served.
Her remarks came in the wake of allegations she had agreed to interfere in the court cases of former prime minister Najib Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, prompting the office of the Federal Court’s chief registrar to lodge a police report denying them.
Also, Court of Appeal judge Nazlan Mohd Ghazali lodged a police report last week over a news article alleging that he was being investigated for unexplained money in his bank account.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said last week it had initiated a probe against Nazlan following a report on the unexplained money.
But, among others, the Malaysian Bar said the Constitution provided for complaints of alleged judicial misconduct to be handled in a manner that ensured continued public confidence in the judiciary.
Nazlan was the trial judge who convicted and sentenced Najib on seven charges relating to RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC International on July 28, 2020.
Last December, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction. An appeal against the conviction is pending before the Federal Court.