Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif insisted today that the judiciary is independent, and challenged the media to ask former senior judges who served as lawyers if this was true.

When asked by a senior editor of an English daily about the perception of the jury not being independent, Raus maintained that senior judges do not try to influence junior judges whether in the Magistrate, Sessions or the High Court.

“The independence of the judiciary is vital in any institution. We do not practice calling other judges, trying to influence their decisions.

“You ask (former judges) like Mah Weng Kwai (formerly Malaysian Bar president), Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof or Varghese George Varughese...