KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to debate two motions concerning judicial independence was dissolved after it failed to meet the required quorum of 500 members.
Its president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab (pic) said only 309 members of the total 24,000 in Peninsular Malaysia turned up.
“We are disappointed that this has happened. Every EGM needs money and we didn’t want to spend that much.
“However, as we felt there was an urgent need to convene an EGM on judicial independence issues, and that the younger lawyers may want to speak up, we decided to do it,” he said.
This was not the first time a Bar Council EGM was dissolved due to a lack of quorum.
Mohamad Ezri said the council would now rely on a resolution passed at its annual general meeting in May, which allows the leadership to act on matters submitted to defend the judiciary.
“So, we will be using that resolution to move forward with whatever needs to be done.
“I cannot answer why the members did not turn up or what their predicaments were.
“We were hopeful that the younger lawyers would come to support the motion on the remuneration for pupils, but that was not the case.
“It is our opinion that this may be because many of the issues have been resolved, and the members’ aspirations have already been addressed by the Bar Council,” Mohamad Ezri added.
Apart from implementing a fair rate of minimum remuneration for pupils, another motion was reported to be holding the Prime Minister accountable for having allowed for the undermining of public confidence in the judiciary.
Vice-president Anand Raj said the failure to gather a quorum should not be seen as a lack of trust in the leadership.
“What this means is that what we have done so far for the majority of the members is sufficient, and that we are on the right track.
“Those who turned up wanted to hear and contribute to the debates, but the majority of members entrusted us with a broad mandate in March, not knowing what would happen in July,” he said.
On March 15, the Bar unanimously passed two amended resolutions reaffirming its stance against interference in the judiciary by the executive, legislature or other unauthorised individuals.
Also present at the EGM were former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas and activist Siti Kasim.
The EGM was called on July 1, amid concerns over the lack of clarity surrounding the retirement of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
On July 14, a large group of lawyers gathered outside the Palace of Justice for a march in defence of the judiciary’s integrity.
A memorandum – calling for the appointment of judicial leaders with demonstrable integrity and a track record of quality judgments, and for vacancies to be filled swiftly to prevent case delays – was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Department legal affairs director-general Zamri Misman.
