Earlier today (July 7) at 9 am, In an unusual move that signals internal friction within the ruling coalition, Rafizi Ramli and eight other PKR Members of Parliament have openly departed from the party’s leadership position by calling for urgent action on what they describe as a growing crisis surrounding judicial appointments.
At a press conference held at the Pusat Khidmat Rakyat Parlimen Subang in Puchong, Rafizi, who is MP for Pandan, read out a joint media statement signed by nine PKR backbenchers. He was flanked by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (MP for Setiawangsa) and Wong Chen (MP for Subang), with the remaining signatories seated in support behind him.
The statement raised alarm over recent events involving Malaysia’s judiciary, in particular the vacancy in the position of Chief Justice following the retirement of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, as well as the alleged delay in filling other key judicial roles such as President of the Court of Appeal. According to the MPs, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) had submitted its recommendations to the Prime Minister prior to Tun Tengku Maimun’s retirement, but no action was taken, resulting in a leadership vacuum at the top of the judiciary.
The group also criticised a recent JAC meeting, which they allege was convened without observing the mandatory 10-day notice period required under procedure. They suggest that the purpose of the meeting may have been to put forward fresh nominations, bypassing the initial list submitted by the JAC — a move they argue lacks transparency and raises questions of process and motive.
In what is likely to be the most serious allegation, the MPs pointed to a reported case involving a Federal Court judge who was allegedly called in by the JAC to respond to accusations of influencing the outcome of a court case and requesting a change in the judge assigned to it. A police report, reportedly lodged by an officer of the judge, is now in the public domain. The MPs further noted that the judge in question had previously served as a special officer to former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, a central figure in the 2007 VK Lingam scandal, which led to a Royal Commission of Inquiry and widespread calls for judicial reform.
The MPs drew parallels between that past controversy and the current situation, warning of potential risks to the independence and credibility of Malaysia’s judicial institutions. In response, the group proposed six measures:
- The formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the series of events surrounding recent judicial appointments;
- A Parliamentary Special Select Committee inquiry into the same matter, including a proposal to summon the Prime Minister to provide an explanation;
- A hold on any new judicial nominations until the above investigations are completed;
- A campaign to gather cross-party parliamentary support for their proposals;
- A series of nationwide public forums to raise awareness, beginning in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor on Sunday, 13 July 2025 at 8:30 PM;
- The launch of a national online petition to gather public support for safeguarding judicial independence.
The nine signatories of the statement are: 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).
Their position diverges from the current government line, as there has been no official announcement or indication that the executive intends to pursue an RCI or a parliamentary investigation. As of now, no formal response has been issued by the Prime Minister’s Office or the Judicial Appointments Commission. The MPs stopped short of directly criticising the Prime Minister but insisted that the matter warranted immediate parliamentary and public scrutiny.
The move is notable for its internal implications. All nine MPs are from the ruling coalition, and several — including Rafizi and Nik Nazmi — hold or have held senior roles in government and the party. Their joint statement marks a rare instance of visible dissent within Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) since the coalition came to power, and raises questions about internal alignment on institutional governance issues.
Observers note that the issue touches on longstanding reform promises made by Pakatan Harapan, especially in the aftermath of the VK Lingam video scandal, which exposed backdoor dealings in judicial appointments and prompted the formation of the JAC in 2009. The current allegations, according to the MPs, suggest a possible backslide in reforms and risk eroding public trust.
When asked whether the move signals a broader fracture within the party or coalition, no direct comment was provided by the MPs. However, they maintained that their actions are consistent with PKR’s original platform of institutional reform, separation of powers, and judicial independence.
The situation continues to develop. Further announcements are expected regarding the parliamentary select committee engagement, upcoming public forums, and the launch of the petition. As of this writing, the Prime Minister and party leadership have yet to respond publicly to the statement issued by the nine MPs.
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