Latest news with #Anwar Ibrahim


South China Morning Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
In no rush to judge: Malaysia's rulers leave out naming new justices
Malaysia 's rulers ended a key meeting on Wednesday without naming new senior judges, prolonging a leadership vacuum at the top of the judiciary that experts warned could damage public trust in the country's legal system. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had earlier said the country's rulers were expected to make a 'clear announcement' on the appointment of a new chief justice on Wednesday, after mounting public criticism over alleged executive interference in the selection of judges. 'The issue regarding appointments was discussed in the meeting,' read a statement released by the national palace on Wednesday after the Conference of Rulers concluded the second day of its three-day meeting. The discussion covered appointments of the chief justice, president of the court of appeal, chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak and senior judges at the federal, appellate and high courts, the statement added. The national palace did not indicate if any decisions were made. Malaysian Bar Council members hold placards during a rally near the prime minister's office in Putrajaya on Monday to protest against the delay in appointing the country's top judges. Photo: AFP The Conference of Rulers is a gathering of the country's nine royal houses, which typically meet three times a year to discuss current affairs and issues of public interest.


South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia to seek lawyers' views as anger over judge selection process mounts
Malaysia 's government on Tuesday invited the Bar Council to take part in a review of the country's judicial appointment process, in a bid to quell public discontent over alleged executive interference that has thrown the judiciary into crisis. The move comes just a day after nearly 1,000 lawyers marched to the Prime Minister's Office demanding urgent reforms and greater transparency in the selection of judges amid a shortage at the top of the courts and warnings of further institutional erosion. The controversy stems from the retirement last week of Malaysia's two most senior judges – Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim – and the government's delay in naming successors. As nine more Federal Court judges are expected to step down by the end of the year, the judiciary could be stretched further with 31 vacancies across the country's courts, according to observers. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has come under pressure for allegedly delaying the appointment of judicial replacements and for reportedly backing a politically aligned and inexperienced candidate as chief justice, claims he has denied. On Tuesday, Law Minister Azalina Othman Said said the government was already conducting a comparative study on the current appointment system with the parliamentary select committee and would now include the Bar Council in the process. 'The government is always open to the views of all parties, including the Malaysian Bar, which will also be invited to participate in this study, to ensure a judicial appointment system that is more transparent, has integrity, and earns the people's trust,' she said.


Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Stay tuned', Anwar teases on major announcement
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim uploaded a poster which said that an 'extraordinary gesture of appreciation for Malaysians' is 'coming soon'. PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that a major announcement will be made in the coming days, while a PKR MP says a resolution has been reached involving judicial appointments and the chief justice's post. In a social media post, Anwar uploaded a poster which said that an 'extraordinary gesture of appreciation for Malaysians' is 'coming soon'. 'Stay tuned,' the prime minister said simply in his post. Separately, Segamat MP R Yuneswaran said he was made to understand that a resolution to the issue involving the judiciary has been reached and an official statement is expected in two to three days. 'Therefore, I urge all parties to stay calm and refrain from making speculations that could only worsen the situation,' he said on X. It is unclear if the announcement Anwar teased about is related to the decision involving the judiciary. Yuneswaran said he was confident that Anwar and the government were committed to ensuring the independence of the judiciary and to preventing the executive from interfering in the process of appointing judges. Subang MP Wong Chen also said on Facebook that an announcement would be made in a couple of days. He said he managed to speak at Anwar's meeting with PH MPs and raised all that he needed to bring up. 'I said what I needed to say, so wait for the news. There will be an announcement in a couple of days,' said the PKR MP. Earlier, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said PH MPs were briefed on the issue involving the judiciary, among others, in the meeting which lasted nearly two hours. Anwar, meanwhile, said the meeting went 'very well'. The prime minister had also met Barisan Nasional MPs on Friday night, which he said was to clear the air on several current issues, including taxation, the RON95 petrol subsidy, and matters involving the judiciary.


Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
MA63: Decision on Sabah's 40pc revenue claim expected by September, says Fadillah
KOTA KINABALU, July 14 — The decision on Sabah's 40 per cent revenue claim under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is expected to be finalised before the Malaysia Day celebration on September 16. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the Sabah government had submitted proposed solutions regarding the long-standing 40 per cent revenue claim during a special meeting of the Technical Committee under the MA63 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63), held at Menara Kinabalu here today. Fadillah, who also chairs the committee, said that each proposed solution would be presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ahead of the next MTPMA63 meeting, scheduled for September 12 in Kuala Lumpur. 'At that meeting, we will determine the appropriate course of action, whether an interim solution or otherwise, as we must also consider the ongoing court case, filed by the Sabah Law Society, regarding the 40 per cent revenue claim,' he said. 'In legal terms, there are limitations that prevent us from finalising a solution without a decision from the court. However, what we are seeking is a resolution outside the court's jurisdiction,' he told reporters after chairing the committee meeting at Menara Kinabalu, here, today. The meeting was also attended by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick. Meanwhile, Jeffrey said that the special meeting was productive, and that the Sabah government had submitted proposals concerning the 40 per cent revenue claim, which will be reviewed by the MTPMA63. — Bernama


Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
It's up to the Bar, says Anwar on judicial independence walk
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for all parties to follow the process and constitutional provisions that have been in place all this while. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has no issues with the Malaysian Bar's plan to hold a peaceful walk next Monday to call for a royal commission of inquiry into judicial appointments and alleged interference in the judiciary. Anwar said it was the Bar's right to hold the gathering, but maintained that the attorney-general and Istana Negara had already touched on the issue. 'Let us follow the process and constitutional provisions that we have been practising all this while,' he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Surau Ar-Rahim here. Anwar again welcomed proposals to amend the constitutional provisions, but maintained that he has never interfered in the court's affairs as prime minister. 'As I have already said, for the past two-and-a-half years, I have never interfered with the court's decisions.' Bar members will gather at the Palace of Justice on July 14 at 2pm to walk to the Prime Minister's Office and hand over a memorandum. The Attorney-General's Chambers had rejected calls for an RCI and a parliamentary committee to investigate alleged irregularities in judicial appointments, saying the situation did not amount to a constitutional crisis. Yesterday, Istana Negara warned against politicising the appointment of top judges, saying this process must be handled carefully, with integrity and in line with the Federal Constitution. The palace said the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 only outlined the process of selecting candidates for judicial appointments, while the authority to advise the king was solely the prime minister's. Separately, Anwar played down calls for Najib Razak to be allowed to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, after the attorney-general confirmed the existence of a royal addendum authorising it. He said the matter was in court and all parties should allow the legal process to run its course.