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Judiciary is independent, stresses Zaki

Monday, 09 July 2012 07:58am

©The Star (Used by permission)
by FLORENCE A.SAMY

KUALA LUMPUR: The judiciary does not bow down to the Executive nor does it take political sides when delivering judgments, said former Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi.

Stressing that there was no interference from the Executive, Zaki said the verdicts of past cases such as those involving Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the claim by settlers against Felda were proof that the judiciary was independent and placed the law as its utmost priority.

“The law is still the law. When I was the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister or the ministers never asked me about cases on trial in court.

“There is no interference from the Executive. The Opposition Leader can be considered the number one political enemy to the Prime Minister and Cabinet but he has been acquitted and released by the court on the charges,” he said in his closing address at the special workshop on the drafting of laws organised by Dewan Negara here yesterday.

Also present was Senate president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.

Anwar, Zaki said, was released by a judge with the potential of being promoted, adding that a federal judge who released him some years back eventually became the Chief Justice.

“The accusation that the judiciary bows downs or takes instruction from the Executive is clearly proven not true.

“I do not know the situation before I became the Chief Justice but I assure you that when I was the CJ, there was no such interference in the judiciary by any side.”

Earlier in his speech, Zaki said the workshop would enhance the knowledge and understanding of lawmakers who came from various backgrounds.

Speaking to reporters later, Zaki, who is the Special Review Commis-sion on Civil Service Transformation chairman, said they wanted more members of the public to give their feedback on how to better improve the delivery system of government departments.

He said the commission had received some 1,000 emails but the majority were from government staff who were seeking better pay or benefits, adding that it was important to improve the service for the people’s benefit.

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