.jpg)
By Mihar Dias April 2025
For a nation long burdened by doubts over the independence of its judiciary, the winds of change may finally be stirring. With Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s forthright support for reforms to remove the prime minister’s role in judicial appointments, Malaysia is on the cusp of a vital transformation — one that could reshape public trust in the very institution tasked with safeguarding justice. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1199083/chief-justice-removing-pm-appointment-judges-will-reinforce-impartiality
Her words, delivered at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta, resonate with clarity and purpose: “Such changes... would reinforce the impartiality of the selection process, ensuring that judicial appointments remain firmly grounded on merit and free from any perception of political influence. ”https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1199083/chief-justice-removing-pm-appointment-judges-will-reinforce-impartiality
This is not a mere procedural adjustment. It is a foundational realignment — one that seeks to sever a lingering tether between executive power and the judicial bench. By amending both the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act 2009 and Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, we would be affirming that judges are not creatures of politics, but guardians of constitutional principle. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1199083/chief-justice-removing-pm-appointment-judges-will-reinforce-impartiality
The past has taught us painful lessons. The 1988 judicial crisis — a chapter many Malaysians remember with a heavy heart — saw the unceremonious removal of then-Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas and the suspension of five senior judges. It was a moment that shook the very foundations of justice and left a scar on the judiciary’s moral authority. That wound, though healing, remains etched in our collective memory. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1199083/chief-justice-removing-pm-appointment-judges-will-reinforce-impartiality
The reforms now proposed are a necessary corrective to that past. They represent not only institutional improvement but moral restoration — the assertion that no judge should owe their position to political patronage, and no court should be tainted by even the faintest whisper of bias.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun’s leadership in this moment cannot be overstated. Her voice carries not only the authority of her office but the weight of history. She reminds us that while laws are written in ink, trust is written in time. And the trust of the public — once lost — can only be regained through courageous steps like these.
Let us be clear: no single reform can, on its own, guarantee a fully independent judiciary. This will require continued vigilance from the legal fraternity, support from Parliament, engagement from civil society, and a culture of integrity within the judiciary itself.
But this reform — if seen through — may well be remembered as the pivot upon which the Malaysian justice system turned toward a more honourable and accountable future.
In an age where cynicism too often overshadows principle, this is a moment to hope. And more importantly, a moment to act — to pass the reforms, honour their spirit, and finally deliver to Malaysians the judiciary they deserve.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
