'Leaked minutes': PN wants answers on JAC chair's vote, other key issues

If the leaked excerpts of the alleged Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting minutes are authentic, Perikatan Nasional’s chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan urged the government to clarify several key issues.

At the top of his list is whether JAC chairperson and former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had exercised her casting vote to break a purported deadlock in nominating a candidate for a top judicial post.

“Was the JAC chairperson’s casting vote - as provided under Section 13(6) of the JAC Act - invoked in this instance?” he asked in a statement this afternoon.

Takiyuddin also questioned the outcome of the subsequent JAC meeting, noting that Section 13(1) of the JAC Act 2009 requires the commission to meet at least once a month.

On June 24, Free Malaysia Today reported that a senior judge had been summoned by the JAC to respond to several allegations of interference in judicial appointments dating back to last year.

“Following the questioning, there was a heated discussion at last month’s monthly meeting of the JAC, which is now split into two factions, with one sympathetic to the judge,” a source told the news portal.

That same day, Malaysiakini reported that a police report lodged on behalf of a senior judge had been leaked. The report pertained to questions Malaysiakini had posed to the judge on June 12 regarding the allegations raised against him during the JAC meeting.

Following the report, Bukit Aman’s classified crimes unit recorded statements from Malaysiakini executive editor RK Anand and news editor Zikri Kamarulzaman.

Yesterday, alleged excerpts from the JAC meeting minutes were leaked on social media. The contents appeared to echo the allegations cited in the leaked police report.

PM must break silence

Takiyuddin further stressed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must break his silence on whether the leaked document is genuine.

“Given that matters concerning the appointment of judges - especially judges in the superior courts - are of public interest, PN demands that the prime minister immediately verify the authenticity of the matter.

“This is crucial, as any delay or lack of a clear stance by the government will further deepen the public’s trust deficit in the country's judicial institution,” he added.

Takiyuddin also demanded to know whether the prime minister had received JAC’s recommendations on the selection of superior court judges following the May 16 meeting or any subsequent meetings, particularly those involving the appointments of the chief judge of Malaya and the chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

“When will the vacancies for the positions of chief justice and president of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia be filled, in accordance with the provisions and procedures outlined in the Federal Constitution and relevant laws?

“Therefore, PN demands that the prime minister provide comprehensive clarification on the above matters without delay, given that this is a critical issue of significant public interest that warrants immediate attention,” he added.

Earlier, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil was unable to confirm the authenticity of the leaked document but warned that if it is genuine, it would fall under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

“If it is authentic and classified as secret, especially for my media friends, I urge you to be careful - do not disseminate it. If a document is classified, the OSA applies,” he added.

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