The move comes just a day after nearly 1,000 lawyers marched to the Prime Minister’s Office demanding urgent reforms and greater transparency in the selection of judges amid a shortage at the top of the courts and warnings of further institutional erosion.
The controversy stems from the retirement last week of Malaysia’s two most senior judges – Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim – and the government’s delay in naming successors. As nine more Federal Court judges are expected to step down by the end of the year, the judiciary could be stretched further with 31 vacancies across the country’s courts, according to observers.
On Tuesday, Law Minister Azalina Othman Said said the government was already conducting a comparative study on the current appointment system with the parliamentary select committee and would now include the Bar Council in the process.
“The government is always open to the views of all parties, including the Malaysian Bar, which will also be invited to participate in this study, to ensure a judicial appointment system that is more transparent, has integrity, and earns the people’s trust,” she said.
