KUALA LUMPUR – Judges hearing cases involving renowned personalities should be provided with bodyguards to ensure their protection, said DAP lawmaker R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH).
During his debate on the budget for the Prime Minister’s Department at the committee stage today, Rayer called on the government to provide security personnel to judges, especially those in the high courts, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court.
He said this in light of prevalent threats, both online and offline, against the chief justice in cases involving former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Perikatan Nasional information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
“As a lawyer, I appeal to the government to consider providing protection for judges to ensure theirs and their families’ safety, especially when hearing cases with personalities like Pagoh (Muhyiddin) and Tasek Gelugor (Wan Saiful),” he said.
On another note, Rayer also expressed his disappointment and objected to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) issuance of a statement on its investigations into judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Ghazali.
He said Nazlan has no way of defending himself in this matter, and such statements would only lead to polemics among the public.
“I wish to touch on the topic of MACC’s investigations and intelligence, especially its case on Nazlan, where it said it has completed investigations against him,” he said.
“I object to MACC’s action on the statement against a judge who has no opportunity to defend himself.
“I urge MACC not to do this, as it will encourage polemics out there,” he added.
The court hearing on Muhyiddin involves his four charges of abuse of power involving RM232.5 million, and two charges of receiving RM195 million in illicit funds. He has claimed trial to all charges.
This morning, he faced another charge of money laundering amounting to RM5 million.
Meanwhile, Wan Saiful claimed trial to two charges of soliciting and receiving bribes worth RM6.9 million in relation to the Jana Wibawa scheme. – The Vibes, March 13, 2023
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