PM urges legal fraternity to continue supporting good governance


Updated 19 hours ago · Published on 10 Jul 2023 2:01PM ·

PM Anwar Ibrahim is calling on members of the legal fraternity to continue supporting the government’s initiatives to institutionalise good governance. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 10, 2023.

PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on members of the legal fraternity to continue supporting the government’s initiatives to institutionalise good governance.

Anwar said the initiatives can be bolstered by advocating transparency and reinforcing the government’s current efforts to hold to account the gross abuses of power as well as corrupt practices of those in authority.

“No doubt working on the present for the better of the future is essential but equally imperative is to bring perpetrators of corruption in the past to justice.

“Giving them a free pass without accountability is to give a blank cheque for the perpetration of future abuses. We need to see a forceful demonstration of this fervour from the Malaysian Bar,” he said when delivering his keynote address at the International Malaysia Law Conference (IMLC) 2023 in Kuala Lumpur today.

Anwar said this was the essence of democratic accountability that people are not only accountable but must be seen to be accountable as well, and this too is the affirmation of justice.

“I am reminded of Sultan Azlan Shah who, upon his ascent to the throne in 1989 as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, made the pledge ‘to rule Malaysia with utmost justice based on the laws and the constitution of the nation… to stand for justice and peace of the nation’,” he added.

With regard to the rule of law, Anwar said it cannot be viewed purely from the prism of theoretical jurisprudence for such a principle cannot be realised if the man on the street or those lacking the economic resources are unable to access the halls of justice.

“In this vein, I applaud the Bar for their valiant efforts in providing legal aid, via a scheme established more than 40 years ago,” he said.

Anwar said as the legal profession is essential to the administration of justice and facilitation of economic activity, he hopes Malaysian lawyers embark on this trajectory to elevate the legal profession and become a beacon for the region and the globe.

The prime minister also said “being fair and impartial” is one of the hallmarks of judicial independence.

The prime minister said there is no need to reinvent the wheel here as independence of the judiciary means that the “judiciary shall decide matters before them impartially, on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences”.

In other words, he said, a judiciary that is independent, impartial and competent is fundamental to the rule of law and engenders public confidence.

“We could well say it is the very bulwark of justice itself,” he said.

He said this sounds easy on paper but, from the empirical standpoint, going back to certain years in the past, such independence may not be that evident and in many ways through no primary failing of the judiciary itself.

“Thanks to the blatant violation of the principle of separation of powers by those holding the reins of power not too long ago, we have witnessed the naked and brutal assault on the judiciary,” he said.

Anwar said this culminated in the emasculation of the judicial process itself, particularly in cases involving politicians who had posed a serious threat to the powers that be.

He said being held to ransom by the said personalities, certain judges consequently made judicial decisions that “completely offended against our sense of justice and good conscience”.

“Nevertheless, as I stand here today, I can say with utmost certainty, that since my taking office as prime minister, not only have I not encroached upon even a single inch of this sacred terrain, but that I shall defend, at all costs, the independence of the judiciary.

“In this regard, I must commend our Chief Justice Tengku Maimun (Tuan Mat) for her courageous role in strengthening our faith in the judiciary.

“And by this, I mean that thanks to her steadfast stand on the independence of her judicial office and that of her judicial brethren in the face of relentless attacks, the horizon for continued judicial independence appears bright and promising,” Anwar said. – Bernama, July 10, 2023.



Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

Related Posts
Russia sets out difference between ‘traditional values’ & foreign ‘amorality’ thumbnail

Russia sets out difference between ‘traditional values’ & foreign ‘amorality’

Russia’s Ministry of Culture has published a draft order setting out “traditional values” that it says must be protected from encroachment by foreign ideas, terrorists, and extremists amid a “global crisis” for public morality.The document was posted on the ministry’s website this week for consultation, ahead of being presented to President Vladimir Putin for his…
Read More
Servus, cheers !: Austria - precious wine culture accessible to everyone thumbnail

Servus, cheers !: Austria – precious wine culture accessible to everyone

Österreich hatte lange Zeit mit Vorurteilen und unvorsichtigen Winzern zu kämpfen – doch das Land erlebt eine Renaissance und ist auf dem richtigen Weg.Das Land bietet wunderbaren Wein-Tourismus an.Diese historische Weinpresse steht in Carnuntum.Bei einer typischen österreichischen «Jause» darf ein Glaserl Wein nicht fehlen!Der bergige Binnenstaat zeichnet sich durch eine unglaubliche topographische Vielfalt aus. Eine…
Read More
We Are Not Breaking Up – Sauti Sol Clears The Air thumbnail

We Are Not Breaking Up – Sauti Sol Clears The Air

Award-winning Kenyan Boy Band Sauti Sol has been forced to clear the air on reports of breaking up after announcing a ‘Small hiatus’. Speaking during the Stanbic Yetu Festival Presser, Polycarp Otieno said, that the statement they put out had been interpreted differently by fans hence the need to clear the air. At the same
Read More
CNN: Rozmowa Bidena i Zełenskiego „nie poszła zbyt dobrze” thumbnail

CNN: Rozmowa Bidena i Zełenskiego „nie poszła zbyt dobrze”

Anonimowy ukraiński urzędnik w rozmowie ze stacją CNN ocenił, że czwartkowa rozmowa telefoniczna prezydenta Ukrainy Wołodymyra Zełenskiego z prezydentem USA Joe Bidenem "nie poszła dobrze". Biały Dom zakwestionował tę informację - podaje na swoim portalu CNN. Nieporozumienia miały dotyczyć oceny ryzyka możliwości rosyjskiego ataku. Administracja amerykańska uznała, że informacje o rozbieżnościach to anonimowy fake news.…
Read More
Index Of News
Total
0
Share