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KUALA LUMPUR – A motion to organise and lead a peaceful protest condemning the actions of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for their investigations against judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali was approved by the Malaysian Bar during an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) this afternoon.
The resolution condemned the anti-graft body’s decision to disclose Nazlan’s identity to the public without proper closure thus far, which the Bar Council said was tantamount to an act of intimidation against the judiciary.
“The Malaysian Bar condemns in the strongest possible terms any interference at any time with the independence of the judiciary, and breaches of the fundamental principle of separation of powers.
“The Malaysian Bar shall take immediate and necessary steps to organise and lead a peaceful protest at a time and venue as the Bar Council deems suitable and such other steps deemed by the Bar Council in its discretion,” it said in a release following the EGM.
Bar president Karen Cheah however explained that exact details pertaining to the planned protest has yet to be ironed out, including the proposed time and venue of the gathering.
“Office bearers will be meeting this Sunday to decide the other details, including the logistics needed for the walk, and when these have all been finalised, we will announce it,” she said after the EGM at Menara MCA in the capital today.
Besides organising the walk, Cheah said other options being considered by the Bar as a gesture condemning MACC’s actions include filing a suit challenging the legality of their investigation into Nazlan, and a third option to advocate possible reforms to preserve the independence of the judiciary.
“Only the walk has been confirmed, and the two others will be decided later by the Bar,” Cheah noted.
The Bar also approved motions to call on Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun to take all necessary steps to protect the institution of the judiciary and the sacrosanct principle of the independence of the judiciary from such intimidation and interference, in his role as the guardian of public interest.
“We will be writing to the AG, informing him of the resolutions that have been passed.
“There is also a list of the relevant authorities, whether it is from our EGM or an annual general meeting, who will receive this list of approved motions,” she explained.
The motions which were tabled for debate at the EGM had received 437 votes in support by members present, seven votes against, and four members who abstained from voting.
Last week, the MACC had said that investigation papers into Nazlan had been submitted to the AG’s Chambers for the next course of action after the judge was accused of having unexplained funds within his personal bank accounts.
At the same time, an application has been filed by lawyers Nur Ain Mustapa and Sreekant Pillai, and activist Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim seeking a declaration that MACC’s investigations into Nazlan were unconstitutional.
The case is set to be heard on June 23 by the Kuala Lumpur High Court. – The Vibes, May 27, 2022.
