Friday, April 11, 2008

JUDICIARY UNDER RESTORATION

JUDICIARY UNDER RESTORATION: Sweeping changes soon
PUTRAJAYA: The prime minister will soon announce sweeping changes in the judiciary, which include the setting up of a commission to appoint and promote judges. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said details of the reform measures were still being finalised and covered the separation of powers, vesting of judicial powers with the courts and appointment of judges in a transparent manner to restore public confidence. "The prime minister will announce the principles that the government will adopt. It will be unveiled sooner than you think," he told reporters after chairing a post-cabinet meeting here yesterday. Zaid, who is in charge of legal affairs, said some aspects of judicial reform needed further study. "Whatever laws passed towards reform will be done after it is agreed by all the stakeholders in the judiciary," he said. Zaid said he was glad for the support from Regent of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah and Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad for the government to undertake reform. Full Story

Government to redeem sacked judges PUTRAJAYA: The government is not in favour of an apology but will try to redeem the judges sacked in 1988, the prime minister said. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the question of an apology for the judicial crisis did not arise. "However, there must be ways to restore the position of (the then lord president) Tun Salleh Abbas. We have not gone into details yet but we will be discussing the matter." He was asked whether the government would apologise to the judges. "I do not see why we should apologise but let us decide when a cabinet paper on the matter is presented." Full Story

No offensive comments, Abdul Hamid tells judges PUTRAJAYA: Judges should be careful about making comments on prosecuting officers and the quality of police investigations, Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad said. "Judges shouldn't be making unnecessary remarks openly in court. In anything that you do, there's always a way of doing it," he said yesterday. Abdul Hamid said it was important not to "blast out in court". "You have to maintain good relationships," he added, speaking after a closed-door forum involving the judiciary, police, Attorney-General's Chambers and the Anti-Corruption Agency, held as part of the annual Judges' Conference. Abdul Hamid did not elaborate on the type of comments he meant, but it is understood he was referring to past statements by judges on the quality of police investigations, the competency of public prosecutors and the character of litigants, or parties to a case.Full Story

Justice is all, Zaid tells budding lawyers KUALA LUMPUR: Never lose sight of the meaning of justice. "The meaning of the word should be instinctive and as budding lawyers, that is an instinct you should possess," he told the room packed with students hanging on to his every word. Zaid, who turned 57, was invited by the UiTM Law Faculty yesterday to celebrate the recognition of the UiTM Bachelor of Legal Studies honours programme by the government. Full Story

DAP, MCA all for setting up of judicial commission
KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA and DAP have come out in support of the call for the setting up of a commission to handle judicial appointments and promotions of judges. Full Story

Reforms: Raja Nazrin's call for judicial body timely: THE call by the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah on the formation of an independent judicial commission is urgent and timely. As he points out, the judiciary was at its best 20 years ago, and now it needs what he calls a judicial renaissance. I applaud his call as the judiciary is at its lowest ebb. Many judicial decisions over the past 20 years have been questionable. If indeed this government heeds the call by Raja Nazrin for reforms in the judiciary, it should form a judicial commission on the appointments and promotions of judges.

Once a judge, now in the dock accused of falsifying document It was an awkward situation for Zunaidah Mohd Idris today when she entered the Sessions Court. She was the accused in the court where once she had been the presiding judge. From 2004 to 2005, she sat on the bench as the Sessions judge. But today she had to wait at a seat meant for the accused before being called to stand in the dock. Full Story

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