KUALA LUMPUR – Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah has reiterated the importance of unbiased and independent judges, as they represent the nation’s judicial system.
In his address during the launching ceremony of the state’s first shariah journal in Ipoh today, Sultan Nazrin said that transparent judgements reflect an authoritative justice administration that is not overshadowed by fear of anyone.
“Judges are important characters in a justice system as they are a symbol in ensuring the credibility and authority of the judicial institution,” he said.
“Any form of doubt must be avoided and a judge should be free from any influence or pressure.”
The ruler also recalled the words of his late father, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, who said in an officiating speech during the 14th Malaysian Laws Conference: “The (mere) existence of courts and judges in every ordered society proves nothing.
“It is their quality, their independence and their powers that matter.”
Sultan Nazrin added that as a leader of Islam in charge of religious matters, he wholeheartedly supported the independence of the shariah judicial system.
He also commended the Perak Shariah Judicial Department for producing the journal, saying that such efforts should be encouraged to improve the justice system as a whole.
“It is the responsibility of my government to help provide training which emphasises knowledge and character building to develop competency levels (of judicial officers),” he said. – The Vibes, August 29, 2022
