[UPDATED] Anwar: No interference in judiciary amid calls to extend CJ's tenure

New Straits Times

8 hours ago

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he has never interfered in judicial matters, including the appointment of judges, amid calls for the extension of the Chief Justice's tenure.
"When someone retires, their service is not automatically extended," he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly.
"Some asked if this is the prime minister's decision? But if one understands the Federal Constitution, they would know the process.
"Just look at the recent appointments where they go to the King, then are presented for discussion with the Conference of Rulers. So all these procedures must be followed," he said.
Several parties, including former Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong and Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament Ramkarpal Singh, have called for Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's tenure as Chief Justice to be extended. Her tenure ends on July 1.
Anwar said he was committed to judicial independence and that the appointment of judges, which follows a strict constitutional process, should not be politicised to undermine the integrity of the institution.
"When an institution that is supposed to uphold integrity and independence becomes politicised in this way, it loses its credibility.
"So when one case is extended, it is labelled a betrayal, and when another is not, that too is called betrayal."
Anwar said he has avoided interactions with senior judges except for Tengku Maimun, and even then, these meetings were only for official purposes.
"I have heard the issues that have been raised. But in all those meetings, I have never interfered in judicial matters.
"Whatever decision they make is entirely theirs. I have never intervened. Yet even that has been politicised," he said.
Commenting on recent discharge not amounting to acquittals (DNAAs), Anwar said there is a tendency among the public to judge judicial outcomes based on their political leanings.
He referred to the DNAAs granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as well as the acquittal of Syed Saddiq Syed Abd Rahman.
"In these two cases, I noticed people have differing views. They support the DNAA in one case but oppose it in another.
"We must understand that there must be wisdom and careful consideration, and there is an independent judiciary in place.
"And it is not my business. Whether I agree or not, my personal opinion is not the issue. We must respect the judges and the decisions they make," he said.
Anwar said he did not want a repeat of the legal persecution he faced in the past.
"We must remember to uphold the system, not according to political preferences, not based on group interests, and not under lobbying pressure."