The Malaysian Bar is glad to note the resignation of Md Raus Sharif as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia and of Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin as the president of the Court of Appeal, as announced in the press release issued by the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court dated 13 June 2018.
Since Raus and Zulkefli have resigned well before the completion of their terms of office, and since no reason has (to our knowledge) been provided, it can be presumed that they now concede that their appointments as chief justice and appeals court president are in breach of the Federal Constitution.
As Raus (the then chief justice) and Zulkefli (the then Appeal Court president) were first appointed as additional judges of the Federal Court, and thereafter to continue as chief justice and appeals court president respectively, this begs the question whether they have also resigned as additional judges.
The Malaysian Bar has at all times taken the position that the appointments — as additional judges, and to continue to hold the positions of chief justice and appeals court president — were blatantly unconstitutional.
It is for this reason that we had at the outset called upon both Raus and Zulkefli to decline the appointments as additional judges and to continue to hold the positions of chief justice and appeals court president. We consequently filed legal action seeking declarations that the appointments are unconstitutional and void.
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The Malaysian Bar thus reiterates our call upon Raus and Zulkefli to vacate their positions as additional judges as well as their positions as chief justice and appeals court president respectively, with immediate effect, instead of continuing to remain in office until 31 July 2018 (as announced in the press release).
The appointment of positions of high judicial office must always be beyond reproach. The failure of Raus and Zulkefli to heed the widespread disquiet surrounding their appointments undermined the status and stature of their offices.
This caused the erosion of public trust and confidence in the independence of the Judiciary, and their insistence on accepting their appointments as additional judges and as chief justice and appeals court president has done the nation a great disservice.
The judicial branch of government must always be truly independent to uphold the Federal Constitution and promote fidelity to the rule of law. The Malaysian Bar views these resignations as a precursor to judicial reform and the strengthening of the independence of the judiciary.
George Varughese is president of the Malaysian Bar.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
What about the other judges who are N-compliant n unmo dedak eaters?