The government must make judicial reform its topmost priority to restore public confidence in the institution, said Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Khoon today.

"Apologising to the judges suspended or sacked 20 years ago will be a gracious for a start, as suggested by the new minister in Prime Minister Department, Zaid Ibrahim.

gerakan youth agm 2007 051007 koh tsu koon 2 "However, what is even more important is that concrete steps must be taken as soon as possible, and seen to be taken towards restoring judicial authority, integrity and credibility in Malaysia," was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The former Penang chief minister said this in welcoming Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s pledge yesterday to speed up various reforms that were promised since the 2004 polls but were not fully implemented.

Koh said in recognising and addressing the aspirations and expectations of the Malaysian people as expressed in the recent 2008 polls, Abdullah had shown that he is a responsive and responsible leader for all.

He also welcomed and supported Zaid's proposal for the establishment of a judiciary appointment commission as a specific measure.

Apart from the judiciary, Koh also said steps must be undertaken to improve the performance of the police in crime prevention and prosecution.

"Introducing a new uniform for the police is just a change in external form. What is needed is a new spirit, a renewed commitment to really improve security and safety for all.

"A sound judiciary and good security are the two most crucial basic factors in ensuring the confidence of the people and investors so that we can continue to enjoy peace and prosperity," he added.

Gerakan had suffered heavy losses in the recently concluded polls, which even saw the party losing its grip on Penang.

Underground railway track

In another development, the new Penang state government plans to build an underground railway track instead of the planned monorail to ease traffic congestion in the state.

lim kit siang dap pc 130208 guan eng Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the project would be in the long-term plan to complete Penang's transportation network.

"This is only a plan. Whether it will be approved or not will solely depend on the federal government. However, I hope it will be considered," he said after chairing the second meeting of the new state executive council at his office.

Lim said an underground railway track for Penang was aimed at protecting and preserving its many heritage buildings as these were tourist attractions for the state.

The monorail for Penang was among the mega projects approved by the federal government under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

The monorail is to connect Batu Ferringhi, which is a major tourist spot on the island, to other areas such as Tanjung Tokong, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Jelutong, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Gelugor, Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas.