YOURSAY 'Can we see some light at the end of this long and dark tunnel to restore some shine to our much discredited judiciary?’

Federal Court allows Tapah polls petition

Kim Quek: When these cases are heard in the higher courts, whether justice will be done depends crucially on the selection of judges. We know from the past that most of the judges selected to hear the petitions were hell-bent to reject the petitions by hook or by crook.

Section 33 of the Elections Offences Act 1954 prescribes that the Chief Judge of the High Court nominates the judge. What was the rule or criteria upon which the presiding judge was selected to hear certain petition? Does the chief judge have the discretion to pick the judge he wants?

We have seen too many judges in the past who have ruled against the law in order to favour the ruling power; and we have also seen - only occasionally - judges who have ruled strictly according to law, without fear or favour.

So, how would it be this time? Can we see some light at the end of this long and dark tunnel to restore some shine to our much discredited judiciary through the coming election petition hearings?

Logical Malaysian: Kim Quek, yes, it is sad indeed but I am not sure whether an out-of-time application will be entertained by the courts since election petition notices are serious matters.

Notwithstanding, the ruling by the Federal Court against the High Court judgments will at least see some of the applications being heard on merits, particularly those of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and M Saravanan .

I am hoping against hope that both their wins will be declared null and void so that re-elections may be held. It was a breather for Zahid who, I was told, survived through the army/postal votes.

At one time Zahid was the darling of Bagan Datoh but now he has lost a lot of ground there. With the recent surveys of the effects of the increase in the cost of living, both will almost certainly bite the dust.

Lim Chong Leong: There are still too many hurdles ahead, too many ‘you help me, I help you’ judges. I do not expect too many good judgments coming our way. This one is just on a technicality. PM Najib Razak will not want another ‘buy-election’.

Senior Citizen: To the Chief Judge and the Federal Court judges of Malaysia. I congratulate all of you for giving a fresh breath of living air to our sacred judiciary.

I call upon all judges in Malaysia to rethink their role and do what is the truth and what is fair and just. Never ever allow injustice to prevail in the minds and lives of the litigant before you. It is the most despicable crime of morality which will come back to strike you and even your next generation.

Judges have are duty bound by law to do absolute justice to the litigant and not to cause further injustice and suffering. If you are compelled due to extrajudicial forces to act against the conscience of your profession then please quit the job and find an alternative source of living.

You and everyone only live once on this earth and during this journey on earth you are recorded with computerised precision every move, every step, every deed and graded accordingly and that record is held by the ultimate judge in chief, the God almighty.

To some, God may mean nothing but remember you are still a mortal being with a day of creation and a day of termination when death takes supreme charge and you are laid to rest. What awaits you and your next generation of kin is based on your performance while you journeyed on earth.

All great prophets and all great men did the same and whose names can never be blotted out till the end of the times. Please remember this and be blessed.

Siang Malam: Investigations must also be carried out why the High Court judge punished PKR candidate K Vasantha Kumar a record of RM190,000 in cost.

Angry Citizen: This may very well be a ‘sandiwara’ to make it appear like the rule of law exists in Malaysia so that even if the appeal is a forgone conclusion, the BN government can say, "Look, the system works and he had his day in court."

But the fact that BN has to resort to ‘sandiwara’ means that they can’t blatantly throw out such cases as they would in the past... so some change is coming little by little.

Vijay47: The obvious conclusion from the recent spate of decisions going against Umno is the faint possibility that our judiciary may have finally seen the light and turned towards it.

But I wonder whether there is also some divine intervention here, because two of the decisions are in respect of a pair of the most unsavoury and obnoxious political characters around, Ahmad Zahid and Saravanan.

Anonymous #79199503: Indeed, it is high time that the judiciary starts growing some wisdom teeth rather than remaining toothless.

Single Malt: Tie me kangaroo down sport, tie me kangaroo down.

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