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The on-going public exchange of statements relating to events arising out of the Honourable Chief Justice’s holiday in New Zealand has given rise to serious public concern as to the administration of justice, the image of the Judiciary, the proper relationship between members of the Judiciary and members of the Bar, and most importantly, the respective roles of the Executive and the Judiciary.

Some press reports have tended to give the impression that the Bar Council, through its then Chairman, Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das, has played the role of examining documents relating to the holiday and pronouncing itself satisfied.

It is necessary, therefore, to clarify the situation both to members of the Malaysian Bar as well as to the general public.

In early 1998 when the photographs of the Honourable Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia on holiday came to public knowledge the then Vice-President of the Malaysian Bar, Saudara R.R. Chelvarajah, and the then Secretary, Saudara Mah Weng Kwai, met the Chief Justice. They asked him to recuse (disqualify) himself from sitting as part of the panel to hear an appeal involving Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy on the ground that the lawyer photographed with the Chief Justice in New Zealand, Dato’ V.K. Lingam, would be appearing as counsel in the appeal.

After the 2 representatives of the Bar had put the position of the Bar to the Chief Justice they were informed that the Chief Justice would consider the matter. Subsequently, the Chief Justice informed the then President, Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das, that the Chief Justice would not sit to hear any matter where Dato’ V.K. Lingam was appearing.

In 1999 when Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das was no longer President of the Malaysian Bar he had occasion to meet the Chief Justice several times over preparations for the Commonwealth Law Conference which was scheduled to be held in September 1999 as well as the special programme for Chief Justices from around the Commonwealth attending the Conference.

At one of these meetings the Chief Justice indicated a large stack of credit card documents and bills on his table and said something to the effect that those documents would show that he had paid for his holiday. Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das politely advised the Chief Justice to keep the documents safely.

Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das was of the view that as he was not the President of the Bar when the incident occurred it was not something he should report to the Bar Council.

Upon ascertaining the above facts over the past few days and after considering the various statements issued the Bar Council was of the view that as the whole issue of the photographs and holiday in New Zealand was now a matter of grave public concern it was imperative that the Malaysian Bar, in the exercise of its public duty of upholding the cause of justice, should deliberate on all the issues raised and express the considered view of the Malaysian Bar.

In the circumstances, the Bar Council is convening an urgent General Meeting of the Malaysian Bar to consider resolutions relevant to the whole issue of the integrity of the Judiciary.

Details of the meeting and resolutions will be released as soon as they are finalised.

Dated: 9th June 2000.

HAJI SULAIMAN ABDULLAH
Presiden
Badan Peguam Malaysia

KONTROVERSI BERKAITAN DENGAN PERCUTIAN Y.A.A. KETUA HAKIM NEGARA DI NEW ZEALAND

Kenyataan-kenyataan yang sedang dikemukakan bagi perhatian orang ramai berkaitan dengan peristiwa percutian Yang Amat Arif Ketua Hakim Negara di New Zealand telah menimbulkan isu-isu amat serius mengenai pentadbiran keadilan, imej pihak Badan Kehakiman, hubungan yang wajar di antara halangan ahli Badan Kehakiman dengan ahli Badan Peguam, dan paling penting sekali, peranan masing-masing pihak Eksekutif dan pihak Badan Kehakiman.

Beberapa laporan akhbar seolah-olah memberi gambaran bahawa Majlis Peguam, melalui Pengerusinya pada masa berkaitan, Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das, telah memainkan peranan meniliti dokumen-dokumen berkaitan dengan percutian itu dan memuaskan diri mengenainya.

Maka adalah perlu bagi Majlis Peguam menjelaskan keadaan baik kepada ahli Badan Peguam Malaysia mahupun kepada orang ramai juga.

Pada awal 1998, apabila gambar-gambar Y.A.A. Ketua Hakim Negara bercuti di New Zealand mula-mula sampai ke perhatian orang ramai, Naib-Presiden Badan Peguam Malaysia pada masa itu, Saudara R.R. Chelvarajah, dan Setiausaha pada masa itu, Saudara Mah Weng Kwai, berjumpa dengan Y.A.A. Ketua Hakim Negara. Mereka meminta beliau mengundur diri (“recuse”) daripada menjadi salah seorang hakim dalam persidangan rayuan yang membicarakan kes rayuan Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy. Permintaan tersebut berdasarkan alasan bahawa peguam yang didapati bergambar bersama Y.A.A. Ketua Hakim Negara di New Zealand, Dato’ V.K. Lingam, akan bertindak sebagai salah seorang peguambela di dalam rayuan tersebut.

Selepas kedua-dua wakil Badan Peguam telah mengutarakan pendirian Badan Peguam kepada Y.A.A. Ketua Hakim Negara mereka diberitahu bahawa Y.A.A. Ketua Hakim Negara akan menimbangkan perkara itu. Selepas itu, Y.A.A. Ketua Hakim Negara memberitahu Presiden Badan Peguam pada masa itu, Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das, bahawa Y.A.A. Tun tidak akan mengambil bahagian di dalam mana-mana kes kalau Dato’ V.K. Lingam terlibat dalam kes itu.

Pada tahun 1999, selepas Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das tidak lagi menjawat jawatan Presiden Badan Peguam Malaysia, beliau telah berjumpa dengan Y.A.A. Tun beberapa kali berkaitan dengan persiapan bagi Persidangan Undang-Undang Komanwel (Commonwealth Law Conference) yang ditetapkan bagi bulan September 1999 serta program khas bagi Hakim-Hakim Besar dari seluruh Komanwel yang menghadiri Persidangan itu.

Pada salah satu pertemuan tersebut Y.A.A. Tun menarik perhatian Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das kepada suatu bungkusan besar dokumen kad kredit serta bil-bil yang terletak di atas meja Y.A.A. Tun dan mengatakan bahawa dokumen tersebut akan membuktikan bahawa beliau bayar semua perbelanjaan cuti. Secara bersopan-santun Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das menasihatkan Y.A.A. Tun supaya berjaga-jaga menyimpan dokumen tersebut.

Dato’ Dr. Cyrus Das berpendapat bahawa oleh kerana beliau tidak lagi menjawat jawatan Presiden Badan Peguam pada masa itu perkara ini bukan suatu peristiwa yang harus dilaporkan kepada Majlis Peguam.

Selepas mengenalpasti fakta-fakta tersebut dalam tempuh beberapa hari kebelakangan ini dan meniliti berbagai kenyataan yang telah dikemukakan Majlis Peguam berpendapat bahawa oleh kerana isu gambar-gambar serta percutian di New Zealand pada keseluruhannya sedang menjadi bahan perbincangan utama di kalangan orang ramai maka adalah paling mustahak bahawa Badan Peguam Malaysia, demi menjalankan kewajipan awamnya, iaitu menyokong kehendak keadilan, harus bermesyuarat dan menimbangkan segala isu yang berbangkit serta mengemukakan pandangan mendalam Badan Peguam.

Dalam hal sedemikian Majlis Peguam sedang memanggil secara mendesak suatu Mesyuarat Am Badan Peguam Malaysia bagi menimbangkan resolusi berkaitan dengan isu kewibawaan dan integriti Badan Kehakiman.

Butir-butir lengkap Mesyuarat Am tersebut akan dikemukakan sebaik sahaja ianya diselesaikan.

Bertarikh: 9hb Jun 2000.

HAJI SULAIMAN ABDULLAH
Presiden
Badan Peguam Malaysia

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