LFL: Will govt arrest thousands who have read, shared JAC leak?

The Lawyers for Liberty has slammed authorities for threatening action under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) over the alleged leak of Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting minutes.

The legal rights group’s director Zaid Malek said the move is unnecessary and shows a disconnect with public concerns over alleged interference with judicial independence.

“Is the government intending to arrest tens of thousands of members of the public who have now seen, shared or are in possession of the leaked JAC minutes? Are there going to be mass arrests under OSA if the public discusses or refers to the JAC minutes?

“The government’s repressive focus on shutting down discussion by threatening action under OSA (shows that they are) attempting to use the OSA to shut down the truth. Only an authoritarian government will resort to such methods,” Zaid said in a statement today.

He highlighted that Pakatan Harapan had previously championed abolishing the OSA and passing a Freedom of Information Act, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim saying in December 2024 that the Freedom of Information Bill would likely be tabled in Parliament this year.

“But now, they threaten the public with the OSA. Has this promise and commitment to transparency and the free-flow of information been abandoned, like so many other promised reforms?

“It is appalling to see the course that the Madani government has taken in response to the serious allegations of interference with judicial independence, including resorting to flimsy denials, knee-jerk dismissals, and now outright threats to those who seek the truth of the matter,” Zaid lamented.

He also reiterated calls for the government to address concerns regarding the judiciary, asserting that the issue has now become a “national crisis”.

“The leak of the JAC minutes was in fact in the public interest, and not against it. It placed before the public crucial facts that the public should know. The public had a right to know,” he said.

He called on the government to immediately impose a moratorium on all police probes under the OSA, pending its repeal, insisting that the policy decision would be consistent with “oft-repeated claims of commitment to reform”.

Reports and probe

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said police have launched a probe under the OSA into the purported leak of a JAC meeting minutes.

Khalid said the investigation, handled by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department's Classified Investigation Unit, will focus on how the internal information could have been exposed and revealed on social media.

He also warned the public against distributing secret documents, saying they could face severe consequences if they did.

Earlier, Kepong DAP Youth lodged a police report urging authorities to identify the individual who leaked the classified document in question and take stern legal action against them.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng cautioned that if no action is taken against those responsible for the alleged leak, a dangerous precedent could be set where private discussions and confidential documents, even those concerning matters of national security, can no longer be safeguarded.

On July 12, Malaysiakini reported that an alleged excerpt of a JAC meeting minutes from May might have been leaked on social media.

The minutes supposedly contain allegations echoing those in a leaked police report lodged in June on behalf of a senior judge, who had been accused of judicial interference.

The police report was lodged after Malaysiakini contacted the judge on June 12 seeking comment on certain allegations involving the judge reportedly made during a JAC meeting.

The Malaysian Bar will be marching in Putrajaya this afternoon to hand over a memorandum to the prime minister calling for a royal commission of inquiry to probe judicial interference, among others.

COMMENT | Anwar believes MACC chief brave but spooked by retired CJ

Judicial scandal has tarnished Anwar's image, analyst says

Judicial appointments: Don't ruin your legacy, Rafizi warns PM

Judge accused of judicial interference may become CJ soon, Rafizi predicts

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

Fahmi can't verify 'JAC leak', warns of classified documents

After 'mother of all judicial scandals', Latheefa wants PM's powers stripped