The key difference between Malaysia and South Africa is that the former does not have an independent judiciary which could resolve issues of racial discrimination in the country, said former United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay.

“Your judicious decisions are circumscribed by Parliament, I never heard of such a thing,” she said, to loud cheers from the 80-odd crowd at a forum organised by Penang Institute last night.

“Our (South African) constitutional courts, every one of them, the high court, and the appeal court, are very firm; they are there to ensure the rule of law prevails,” she said...