Lawyers gathered at the Kota Kinabalu Court after their walk for justice in the city.
KOTA KINABALU: More than a hundred lawyers took part in the Walk for Judicial Independence from the Damai Community Hall to the Court house here on Friday (June 17).
This walk was in conjunction with the peaceful protest by their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia.
The lawyers started the march at about 10.30am. Policemen were present to ensure the safety of everyone.
Speaking after the march, Sabah Law Society (SLS) president Roger Chin said for the purpose of the walk, the SLS condemned the unprecedented manner in which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has publicly announced the commencement of criminal investigation of a superior court judge.
SLS also condemned the manner where the MACC disclosed the name of the judge to the public, for an indefinite period and without any proper decision or closure, which was tantamount to an act of intimidation against the judiciary.
“We also condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any interference, whether explicit or otherwise, at all material times, with the independence of the judiciary, and breaches of the fundamental principle of separation of powers,” he said.
Chin said the SLS hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would take note of the concerns and take all measures and reasonable actions to uphold and protect the independence of the judiciary.
He urged Ismail to also preserve public confidence in the judiciary, including measures of legislative reform so that the parameters and the law on the process of addressing allegations of misconduct against judges was clarified and refined to preserve the independence of the judiciary.
“Judicial power and independence are sacrosanct to the principle of separation of powers that stands as one of the basic structures enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“Public confidence in the judiciary is the hallmark of a mature and effective democratic government under the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Chin said SLS recognises that judges were not above the law and must be made accountable if they commit any crimes, and that law enforcement agencies must be allowed to carry out their respective tasks in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution.
“But we firmly maintain that any investigation of judges by law enforcement agencies ought to be conducted without eroding judicial independence and public confidence in the existence of an independent judiciary that will uphold justice.
“Any complaint against judges and its investigation by law enforcement agencies under the purview of the executive, if given incautious publicity, will have a far-reaching impact on judges in carrying out their duties independently,” he said.
