Dr M won't attend Bar's march for judicial independence

Summary

• Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he will not join the Malaysian Bar’s Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence, but will attend a separate meeting with the Defend the Judiciary Secretariat.

• The Bar’s march on Monday, expected to be joined by civil society groups like Bersih, aims to defend the judiciary as an institution, following concerns of potential interference.

• PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan says Perikatan Nasional no longer backs Rafizi Ramli’s call for an RCI on judicial appointments, citing concerns over transparency and political alignment.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not be participating in the upcoming Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence organised by the Malaysian Bar, scheduled to take place in Putrajaya next Monday.

The centenarian said that while he will not be attending the walk, he is expected to attend a meeting with the Defend the Judiciary Secretariat.

“I won’t be (at the Malaysian Bar event), but (the secretariat meeting) will involve not just lawyers, but also NGOs and people from various political parties,” he said briefly when asked about the matter at a press conference today.

The Bar’s walk is set to begin at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya and end at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), where a memorandum will be handed over, calling for urgent measures to safeguard judicial independence.

The Bar has clarified that the march is not aimed at defending any particular judge, but to highlight growing concerns over the integrity of the judicial institution.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan previously told Malaysiakini that the opposition party will be represented at the walk, particularly by its lawyers.

Electoral reform group Bersih also expressed its commitment to participate, joining a growing list of civil society voices pushing for reforms to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

Takiyuddin, who was also present at the press conference today, declared that Perikatan Nasional will not support PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli’s call to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into allegations surrounding judicial appointments.

“With all due respect to him (Rafizi), we cannot provide our support as he is still a backbencher and government supporter. Why does he need to ask the opposition for support?

“We are also not confident in an RCI that could be formed under the present conditions as the commission would have to be formed based on the advice of the prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” the Kota Bharu MP who is also PN chief whip said.

Takiyuddin highlighted that supporting the call for the RCI would be contradictory to the opposition’s stance urging for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s immediate resignation.

Takiyuddin’s statement comes after several PN MPs expressed cautious support yesterday, for former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli’s call to establish the RCI.

Rafizi told to question Anwar in Parliament

Takiyuddin, a former law minister, also said he and opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin had not received the letter Rafizi reportedly sent to all parliamentarians urging them to support the establishment of the RCI.

Noting that Hamzah intends to quiz Anwar on concerns regarding judiciary appointments during Prime Minister Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on July 22, Takiyuddin invited Rafizi to ask additional queries to support his attempts at seeking transparency on the matter.

Yesterday, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the party supports the potential RCI and any efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis concerning judicial appointments.

Later, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party still has reservations on whether the RCI would be transparent since its members would be appointed by the prime minister.

The Kubang Kerian MP also pointed out that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had already said an RCI is unwarranted, and the law minister had also issued a similar statement.

Bersatu’s Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said that while she personally supports Rafizi’s call, she has yet to consult other PN MPs on the matter.

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