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A GROUP of 9 KEADILAN (PKR) MPs has called for urgent judicial reforms following the appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as Malaysia’s new Chief Justice, urging that efforts to strengthen the judiciary’s independence must continue with renewed vigour.
The MPs said in a joint statement on Friday said that while the appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid, together with Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as President of the Court of Appeal and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, completes the judiciary’s top leadership for now, concerns remain.
They acknowledged that public response to Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid’s appointment had been mixed due to his previous role in UMNO and his position as one of the more junior judges on the bench.
“We hope that as the new Chief Justice, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid will receive these views in an open manner,” the statement read. “They should serve as guidance and motivation to prove that his leadership will defend judicial independence, even beyond the excellent track record of his predecessor, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.”
The MPs identified several pressing concerns they said the new Chief Justice must address to restore public confidence and uphold judicial standards.
These include the urgent appointment of judges to fill 31 existing vacancies, which they argue is essential to prevent disruptions to judicial administration.
They also stressed that all appointments must be based strictly on merit and judicial seniority, in order to ensure fairness for long-serving judges and protect the integrity of the courts.
They further called for full adherence to the Federal Constitution and Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act in all appointments, and emphasised the need to guard against any political or external influence. Unresolved matters raised in past JAC meetings, including allegations of attempts to influence a Federal Court judge’s ruling, must also be investigated thoroughly.
“The recent leadership uncertainty highlights the urgent need for reform of the appointment process to prevent such issues from recurring,” they said.
The MPs also urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not to view the current appointments as the conclusion of the reform process.
Instead, they argued, deeper structural reforms must be pursued to institutionalise transparency and prevent undue executive influence.
Among their recommendations are that the Prime Minister’s discretion to reject JAC nominations be subject to clear limits and formal justification, either to the JAC or Parliament.
They proposed that representatives from the Bar Councils of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak be appointed automatically to the JAC, to reduce executive dominance over its membership.
The MPs also called for Parliament to be given a more active role in confirming JAC nominations before they reach the Prime Minister, either through public confirmation hearings or a formal vote.
“We will continue to monitor these matters closely, so there remains a voice from the backbench to ensure the reform process progresses steadily,” they said.
The statement was signed by MPs Rafizi Ramli (Pandan), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Wong Chen (Subang), Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau), Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang), S. Kesavan (Sungai Siput), and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat). - July 18, 2025