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Opposition backs judicial amendments |
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Friday, 09 May 2008 09:42am |
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©New Straits Times
(Used by permission)
by V. Anbalagan and V. Vasudevan
KUALA LUMPUR: The parliamentary opposition has come out in support of
constitutional amendments to set up the Judicial Appointments Commission.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party would
support the constitutional amendment if it was for the good of the judiciary.
"I do not think it should be turned into a political football. Anything which
will lead to the creation of an independent judicial system should be supported
without condition," he said, brushing aside talk that the opposition would try
to scuttle the amendment by refusing to vote for it.
Pas deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa said as long as the government made the
terms of reference clear and the right people were nominated for the commission,
the party would support it.
These were the immediate responses from opposition leaders following the
announcement yesterday by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid
Ibrahim that the Constitution would have to be amended to create the commission.
Zaid said the government was aware that it did not have the
two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat needed to pass the amendment but
expressed hope the amendment would have the support of opposition MPs.
"Sensible politicians will agree if it is for the good of the country."
Zaid said the structure and composition of the commission would be finalised in
three weeks.
A draft of the amendment to the Constitution will be tabled at the second
sitting of Parliament next month.
Zaid he was inclined to adopt the British model in setting up the commission.
He said the commission members would be representative and would number between
12 and 14 people.
"But these numbers are fluid. It is not going to be too small or too big."
He indicated that membership would, among others, come from political parties,
including the opposition, the Attorney-General's Chambers, lawyers and retired
judges.
On April 17, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the
setting of the commission to identify and recommend candidates for the
judiciary.
Abdullah had said that the constitutional prerogative of the prime minister to
put forward names to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would remain.
The commission will evaluate and vet candidates in a systematic and credible
manner for the prime minister based on clearly defined criteria.
On the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the Lingam video clip, Zaid said
the cabinet would decide whether to make it public.
He said this in response to questions that the government should make available
the much-awaited report immediately.
The five-man commission, chaired by former chief judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar
Mohamed Noor, will present the report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana
Negara today.
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