PUTRAJAYA: The appointment of new top figures proves that there is no interference in the nation’s judiciary, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said any delays in announcing the new appointees stemmed from the lengthy appointment process.
“What crisis is there?" he said when met after Friday prayers at a mosque here on Friday (July 18).
"I did not expel any judges, and I did not refer any judges to the tribunal.
“I did not interfere in any decisions, nor did I give any judges orders, unlike previous administrations.
"This is because the independence of the judiciary must be upheld,” he added.
It was announced earlier that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had approved the appointments of three top judicial figures, including Court of Appeal judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
Also appointed are Federal Court judges Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as Court of Appeal president and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as the Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, replacing the outgoing Chief Judge who is set to retire.
On Friday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, approved the appointments of three top judicial figures, including Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
Also appointed were Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as the President of the Court of Appeal and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as the Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, replacing the outgoing Chief Judge who is set to retire.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that these appointments were made in accordance with Clause (1) of Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, following his advice and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.
Anwar stated, "Be patient, the judges were actually appointed already," aiming to quell previous slanderous claims.
Anwar addressed the spread of misinformation, highlighting that rumors of a former attorney general being proposed as a top judge were flawed and politically motivated by some lawyers.
“For weeks, I was criticised. Now I can mention that it is (Tan Sri) Terrirudin (Mohd Salleh) a former attorney general who has served excellently and is now the Federal Court judge.
“But, because he had many more years left (to serve), his name was never even proposed.
“So where (this allegation) came from? It was disseminated among several senior lawyers who are playing politics. I don’t believe this is a view represented by all,” said Anwar.
He emphasised the importance of the judiciary as a pillar of a sovereign, independent country practising parliamentary democracy. Anwar also congratulated Wan Farid, Abu Bakar, and Azizah on their appointments, expressing confidence in their ability to execute their duties excellently.
The Chief Justice position became vacant after Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim reached the mandatory retirement age on July 2 and 3.
Recently, the Malaysian Bar held a peaceful march to the Prime Minister’s Office at the Palace of Justice, submitting a memorandum calling for the judicial leadership positions to be filled promptly and proposing a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into possible judicial interference. A group of PKR MPs, led by former party deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, also called for an RCI to address the ‘crisis’ in the judiciary.
