Rakyat again swamp Agong's FB page to express a host of displeasure against PMX, Madani gov't
The latest was through the comment section of the Johor ruler's post that the appointment of judges to Malaysia's superior courts must be handled with care and integrity to prevent the matter from being politicised.
Citing Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, the July 10 statement by Istana Negara highlighted that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the top four judicial office holders and other superior court judges based on the PM's advice after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.
The first time a similar venting of public displeasure happened was three weeks ago when Sultan Ibrahim posted a photo of him meeting PMX who also briefed the former on current developments and various current issues.
It cannot be immediately ascertained if such practice of undermining PMX at the highest level is orchestrated by the Opposition in the wake of the PAS-backed Turun Anwar rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on July 26 which has targeted to draw some 50,000 participants.
What is sure, however, is that running down the public image of a serving PM in such a manner has been unprecedented and is reflective of a sense of desperation in tandem with the escalating public trust deficit on PMX and his Madani administration following the May 23 PKR central leadership polls.
In the latest antic, the most popular comment has called for the 're-opening of the (Datuk Seri Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi case file', alluding to the discharged not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) judgment bestowed on the Deputy PM from all 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering in relation to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
The comment was, however, denounced by Madani government backers as 'falling outside the topic'.
Another commenter lamented the appointment 'of problematic individual such as PMX' which he described as 'a big mistake for the country' which again necessitated Madani keyboard warriors to come to PMX's defence.
A perhaps more balanced view is one which paid tribute to PMX for having mooted judiciary reform by sparking public pressure following the 'looks like me and sounds like me' V.K. Lingam's case yet he himself is now caught in an 'impending judiciary crisis'.
However, many Madani backers tend to brush aside concerns over a brewing judiciary crisis on grounds that the 'judges were not sacked as during the Mahathir era but just that they've reached their mandatory retirement age'.
One commenter even seized the opportunity to seek the National Palace's urgent intervention to ensure that the case of incarcerated former premier Datuk Seti Najib Raszak 'is tried with due diligence'.
At the end of the day, a number of commenters wanted the Agong and the Conference of Rulers to rely on their own discretion to decide on judiciary appointments without intervention from politicians who includes the PM himself. – July 13, 2025
Main image credit: Bernama
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