All DAP MPs are united in their opposition against the recent decision by the government to extend Chief Justice Eusoff Chin's tenure as he had not been able to clear the serious allegations of judicial misconduct in relation to his New Zealand holiday in 1994.

In a joint statement, the 10 DAP MPs voiced their "strong opposition" to the six-month extension of Eusoff, which was announced by Chief Secretary Abdul Halim Ali yesterday.

"We would like to appeal to the Agong and the Conference of Rulers to review the decision on the six-month extension of Eusoff's tenure," said DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok, on behalf of the MPs.

She added that Eusoff should first clear the allegations of judicial impropriety and misconduct in connection with his New Zealand holiday with prominent lawyer V.K Lingam in December 1994.

The opposition MPs also called on the Conference of Rulers to request that the Chief Justice clear the allegations against himself because the implications of keeping silence would tarnish the image of the Malaysian judiciary.

According to the Federal Constitution, the Chief Justice "shall be appointed by the Agong, acting on the advice of the prime minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers".

Allegations against Eusoff were sparked off last month when de facto law minister Rais Yatim gave a radio interview in Australia, saying that it is "improper behaviour" for a judge to holiday with a lawyer who appears in courts cases before him ("[#1] Improper to holiday with lawyer, Chief Justice told[/#] ", May 30).

Malaysiakini reported last week that UK-based private eye Bowman Investigations has alleged that Eusoff and Lingam flew together with their families for their Christmas holiday six years ago.

Copies of Eusoff's itinerary and Lingam's counterfoil air tickets, which Bowman's team of investigators said they obtained, allegedly show that both took the same flight from Singapore to Auckland, and within New Zealand.

Public criticism as a result of these allegations added to the already battered international image of the legal system, which includes the International Bar Association, who along with three other international legal bodies had released a scathing report this April concluding that the independence of the judiciary is in "jeopardy".

The Bar Council decided 10 days ago that it would convene an emergency general meeting to look into issues relating to the integrity of the judiciary following the controversial statements by Minister Rais Yatim. ("[#2] Bar to examine Eusoff issue[/#] ", June 9)

However, an injunction was filed this morning by lawyer K. Raja Segaran to prevent the EGM from proceeding.

In his letter to the Bar Council, Raja Segaran cited his strong objections to the holding of the EGM on the grounds that the meeting and its proposed resolutions would be contemptuous and seditious ("[#3] Bar Council to proceed with EGM despite threat of legal action[/#] ", June 13).

Attempts by malaysiakini to reach Raja Sekaran for comments were