Govt to review JAC Act for improvements - minister

The government will review the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act 2009 amid public confusion over the recent chief justice appointment process.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said a special committee will be established, comprising members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, as well as constitutional experts, legal practitioners, and academics.

“We have to improve because what is happening now is that there is a lot of confusion. (There’s) no clarity from the public perspective.

“But then this particular JAC, which was passed and established in 2009, was responsible for the appointment of five chief justices. It has never been an issue.

“Sadly, now there is an issue, so we have to study it. Where did the non-clarity or confusion come in? Is it the processes, or is it the wording of the Act?” she said to reporters after attending the International Conference on Integrity and Governance in Putrajaya today.

Yesterday, Azalina clarified that the JAC does not have binding authority in judicial appointments.

She explained that the JAC’s primary role is to screen, assess, and recommend candidates to the prime minister, while appointments to the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court must ultimately comply with Article 122B of the Federal Constitution.

- Bernama

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