Judges must act without fear or favour, says AG

PUTRAJAYA : Judges must consistently make right decisions without fear or favour if the judiciary aims to regain its credibility, says Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.

He said judges must do so regardless of the personality of the party or the accused before them.

He recalled that for the first 30 years after Merdeka, the judiciary enjoyed high reputation, listing former Lord Presidents Tun Mohamed Suffian Mohamed Hashim, Raja Azlan Shah (who later became Sultan Azlan Muhibbudin Shah) and Tan Sri Dr Eusoffee Abdoolcader as among the luminaries.

“I suggest the principal reason why Malaysian judges were held in high esteem was because they were invariably making right, correct or proper decisions, according to the evidence and the law.

“If judges can reach the correct decisions regularly and consistently, confidence including that of the public, will return,” he said at the ceremonial sitting to celebrate the appointment of Chief Justice Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.

He was confident that under Tengku Maimun’s leadership, the glory days of the judiciary as enjoyed in the 1970s and 1980s would return.

In congratulating the Chief Justice on her appointment, Thomas said Tengku Maimun’s elevation was not due to gender but because of her integrity, independence, intelligence and diligence.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Bar also expressed its belief that Tengku Maimun’s appointment will have a positive impact on the Malaysian judiciary.

Malaysian Bar president Abdul Fareed Abdul Ghafoor said having the first female Chief Justice was a remarkable milestone for Malaysia and an encouraging step towards increasing the number of women in top positions.

“Your Ladyship is well known to be a fair-minded judge with a good judicial temperament and sound knowledge of the law.

“The Bar has always enjoyed a good working relationship with Your Ladyship.

“We now look forward to continuing and strengthening this relationship in Your Ladyship’s new role, a relationship based on mutual respect and with due regard to each other’s role as equal partners in the administration of justice in Malaysia,” he said in his speech.

Abdul Fareed said this was an opportune time to reform the judiciary in a holistic manner, so as “to erase any historical blot on the judicial landscape” and “rebuild public confidence in the judiciary”.