Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria wants the attorney-general (AG) to be relieved from heading the judicial division of the Magistrate and Sessions Court, reports news portal MalayMailOnline.

“...A paper to make this changes has already been drafted by the chief registrar and it should be finalised by end of the year,” Arifin reportedly told a press conference today.

Speaking after opening the Judicial Officers Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Ariffin explained that the chief registrar should instead be in charge of the division to ensure unbiased judgment and verdicts in both courts.

“In my opinion it is unwise for the AG to head the judicial and legal services of the Sessions Court and Magistrate’s Court as this is the current state.

“It would be difficult to pass judgment when or if the prosecutor is a senior officer from the AG’s office or the AG himself. It is like passing judgment against your boss,” he opined.

If the AG continues to head both judicial and legal services, Arifin said he is afraid that it could breed negative perception on the freedom of judges.

“My suggestion is that let the chief registrar head the judicial division and allow the AG to handle the legal division,” he said.

This, said Arifin is similar like how the federal courts are organised, pointing out that hierarchically the judicial service fell under the management and coordination of the chief registrar of the country, in any case.