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HOME MINISTER Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has called on all quarters to respect the constitutional process involved in appointing senior judges, including the next Chief Justice, amid growing public interest in the current vacancy.
“The matter currently drawing national attention is the vacancy of the Chief Justice. The Constitution clearly outlines this in Article 122B, which states that the King appoints the Chief Justice on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Conference of Rulers,” Saifuddin said at the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly today.
He urged the public not to “prejudge or cast baseless aspersions” on the process, nor to insinuate executive interference.
“There is no need for premature accusations or assumptions that the Prime Minister or the executive is meddling. The three steps are clearly stated in the Constitution—respect the process,” he added.
Saifuddin also warned parties against pushing demands or narratives before the formal procedure is concluded. “Let the process unfold first. Especially if the accusations being made are without basis.”
He pointed to Article 125 of the Federal Constitution, which provides mechanisms to address ethical violations by judges, stating that assumptions of misconduct or interference should not arise if all parties respected their constitutional roles.
PDRM to lead national scam response centre
In a separate announcement, Saifuddin confirmed that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will now lead the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) in a strategic move to strengthen the country’s response to financial fraud.
“There was previously no single agency clearly tasked with leading the NSRC, despite collaboration among agencies such as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and the National Financial Crime Centre (NFCC),” he said.
He explained that the change followed a proposal presented to and approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim two weeks ago, with PDRM’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) now officially taking the helm.
PDRM will manage full NSRC operations, including the 24-hour 997 hotline, replacing BNM-appointed call centre agents.
The transition will also involve relocating the NSRC’s operations centre and filling 139 new positions under PDRM, with coordination underway between the Home Ministry’s Secretary-General and the Public Services Department (JPA).
“This move isn’t just about response—it includes a comprehensive review of existing regulations and the banking sector’s role in accelerating the freezing of suspicious accounts and restitution to victims,” Saifuddin said.
Unnotified assemblies pose challenges
Touching on the issue of public gatherings, Saifuddin noted that the absence of prior notice to police ahead of a planned rally on 26 July in Kuala Lumpur poses operational challenges for law enforcement.
“When organisers were previously required to notify police, we could plan accordingly—identify the gathering location, estimate participant numbers, and deploy an appropriate security presence. This isn’t about stopping protests but about ensuring public safety,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that a Federal Court ruling had removed the legal obligation for prior notification, a decision he said must be respected.
Despite this, Saifuddin reminded rally organisers and participants that other conditions under the Peaceful Assembly Act remain in force.
“Participants must not bring weapons or children. Speeches must not touch on the monarchy or religious sensitivities. If these are violated, police are duty-bound to act,” he said, adding, “If the police take action, do not claim that your freedom is being denied. The relevant sections of the Act still apply.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to freedom of expression and assembly under the MADANI government, noting these as democratic rights—provided they are exercised within the law. - July 16, 2025