Maintain judicial independence and public confidence

THE recent appearance of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M Kulasegaran, alongside activist Arun Dorasamy at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court raises legitimate public concern and warrants careful reflection.

While the Deputy Minister has clarified that his presence was brief and personal, public office holders do not operate in a vacuum. Whether official or otherwise, the presence of a senior government figure, particularly one responsible for legal and institutional reform, inevitably carries weight and symbolism.