Chief Justice Richard Malanjum today refused to be pinned down on whether Sessions Court judges were made to attend a National Civic Bureau (BTN) course just months before the 14th general election.

When asked about the alleged letter compelling judges to attend the course, Malanjum only said: “I think we are more interested in looking forward, not backward.

“So, we want to look forward.”

Malanjum was speaking to reporters after the end of a gotong-royang (mass volunteering) event to clean up the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, following its janitors going on strike over a payment dispute.

Read more: Court clean-up mess resolved, janitors back to work tomorrow

He is a member of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which oversees subordinate court judges.

Yesterday, the group Lawyers for Liberty claimed that Sessions Court judges were told to attend a "Latihan Transformasi Negara" (National Transformation Training) programme from March 16 to 18.

In the Feb 15 letter, it is stated that the course was organised by the Chief Registrar's Office of the Federal Court (PKPMP), with the cooperation of BTN, and that attendance was compulsory.

Malaysiakini had sighted a copy of the letter, but is unable to independently verify its veracity. The portal has contacted the Chief Registrar’s Office for comment.

LFL adviser N Surendran had described the instruction as “unacceptable and shocking,” and claimed it could constitute a threat to judicial independence.

“The BTN is notorious for promoting racism and disunity and being a propaganda tool for the BN regime. It has become so tainted and identified with BN's tyranny, that the Pakatan Harapan manifesto had promised that it would be dissolved.

“Judges must be impartial and independent in their conduct and judgments; this is fundamental to uphold the rule of law and maintain the separation of powers,” he said.

Promise 28 of Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto stated the coalition “will dissolve the National Civics Bureau, which over the years actively become a cheap political agent for Umno.”

However, Malaysiakini reported on July 2 that the Harapan-led government had decided to retain and overhaul the controversial bureau instead.