THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has dismissed a contempt of court application against former UMNO Supreme Council member Isham Jalil, ruling that his public criticism of the judiciary did not constitute contempt.
Judge K Muniandy, in delivering his decision on Tuesday, found that the allegations made by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) were not directly linked to the court that presided over the two high-profile corruption cases.
“The alleged contempt raised does not have a direct connection to the court that handled the 1MDB and SRC cases,” the judge said.
He further ruled that Isham’s comments, though critical, did not erode public confidence in the administration of justice.
“The purpose of contempt laws is not to shield judges from criticism, but to protect the public’s right to the unimpeded administration of justice,” Muniandy added.
He noted that criticism of judges and judicial decisions is now a common occurrence in the age of social media.
“As judges, our duty is to adjudicate with absolute independence and impartiality, and to uphold integrity that cannot be undermined,” he said.
“It is not an easy task, as we must remain resolute in the face of challenges and criticism, ensuring that the scales of justice are not tipped by external pressures or public opinion.”
The judge stressed that judgments in cases involving 1MDB and SRC were based on evidence and legal principles, not “emotion or public pressure.”
“This demonstrates that justice is guided by the rule of law, not the tide of opinion or baseless attacks,” he said.
The ruling came after the AGC initiated committal proceedings in March last year, alleging that Isham – full name Hizatul Isham Abdul Jalil – had made remarks deemed to be in contempt of court during a public townhall event titled ‘Townhall For Justice: Keadilan Sebenarnya Untuk Siapa?’
The AGC argued that Isham’s comments, which questioned aspects of Najib’s trial and appeal process, including the recusal of Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah (now a Court of Appeal judge), had the potential to damage public trust in the judiciary.
Despite these claims, the court found no grounds for committal, and Isham will not face jail or fines over the matter. - July 8, 2025
