The Malaysian Bar - Sultan Azlan Shah speaks out

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Sultan Azlan Shah speaks out

Monday, 29 October 2007 11:49pm

©The Sun (Used by permission)

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29, 2007): A quick-take on what Perak's Sultan Azlan Shah, a former Lord President, has to say about the Judiciary today:

• Recently, there have been even more disturbing events relating to the judiciary reported in the press.

• I found it necessary to speak at some leangth on matters ( regarding judiciary) because it is my earnest hope that the Malaysian judiciary will regain the public’s confidence and it will once again be held in the high esteem as it once was held.

• A judiciary loses its value and service to the community if there is no public confidence in its decision-making.

• It is of the essence of a judge’s character that he must be a person of unquestionable integrity who brings an unbiased mind to his task. Like Caesar’s wife. He should be above suspicion.

• There is no reason why judges with the assured security of tenure they enjoy under the Constitution should not discharge their duties impartially, confidently and competently

• Judges must piously resist the lure of socialising with business personages and other well-connected people. They may discover at their peril that they have compromised themselves in the cases that come before them with the unedifying of recusal application.

• Judging in a diverse society is not an easy task. Judges in many parts of the world face similar difficulties … Judges in Malaysia must be ever mindful that they are appointed judges for all Malaysians.

• The inevitable consequence of incompetence is delayed judgments and backlog in cases would lead to all round of dissatisfaction … Surely, such a situation cannot be tolerated in any progressive nation.

About lawyers today:

• The Bar and its leadership must ensure there is a high standard of integrity and ethics among its members. A Bar that is riddled with bad practices cannot assist the administration of justice.

• Judges are supposed to be no respecters of persons who appear before them. This rule applies not only to litigants but also to lawyers. It’s not just a matter of prudence and good practice, but fundamentally one of ethics.

• There have been allegations against some lawyers that in clear dereliction of their responsibilities, they have either misled the courts, or attempted to choose the judges or courts for their cases to be heard so as to obtain a favourable decision in their client’s favour. This is a serious interference with the administration of justice and the process of the court.

Here is the full text of Sultan Azlan Shah's opening address at the 14th Malaysian Law Conference taken from the Bar Council website (www.malsyhaianbar.org.my).

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