Govt truly committed to judicial independence, opposes interference, asserts PM

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has again assured that he has not interfered in the affairs of the judiciary, and is instead committed to defend the independence of the body by any means.

The prime minister also emphasised the importance of an independent, impartial and competent judiciary.

He said that the judiciary as a bastion of justice is a necessity for the rule of law. He said this while addressing the 14th Asean Law Association General Assembly and Asean Law Conference 2023 here, today.

Anwar had asserted in September last year  that the attorney-general (AG) and the judiciary had full authority to grant Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over his 47 corruption charges related to Yayasan Akal Budi.

He had told the Dewan Rakyat that the AG has the power to grant a discharge to any individual under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.

He had also stressed that he did not have any discussion with the AG over the DNAA granted to Zahid, who is presently the deputy prime minister.

Anwar today rubbished the allegations that the executive arm of the organs of the state is interfering with due process and strong-arming the judiciary, describing them as "disconcerting rumblings" .

“There is not one iota of truth in these scurrilous allegations, which are now being repeated ad nauseam in the social media. 

“Let me reiterate what I have said before; As Prime Minister, not only have I not encroached upon even a single inch of the sacred terrain of the judiciary, but I shall defend, at all costs, the independence of the judiciary,” he said in his speech.

He said there was a time in Malaysia’s history where certain black sheep of the judiciary, working hand in glove with certain powers that be; committed gross transgressions against its very institution and feeding the virulent spread of tyranny and arbitrariness on the other. 

Anwar said the government and those who wield power must be held accountable for their decisions and actions.

“Government must be transparent and that is imperative from the principle of open government," he said. “Hence, shady dealings and dodgy decisions cannot be used to pool wool over the people’s eyes in the name of the Official Secrets Act.

“Then, there is the doctrine that laws must be fair and just and that all must have accessibility to the hallowed halls of justice."

Therefore, the prime minister called on lawyers to be the champions of justice, the fierce advocates for the marginalised and the torchbearers of equality. 

“We must strive to ensure that justice is not a commodity only available to those with financial means, but rather a universal right accessible to all, irrespective of their socio-economic status,” he added. – The Vibes, October 19, 2023