TAPAH – The government is open to proposals aimed at improving existing legislation, including those concerning the appointment of the Chief Justice, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Speaking at a press conference during a visit to the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) in Ayer Kuning, Fahmi, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson, said the Cabinet was aware of recent discussions around the role of the Prime Minister in judicial appointments and would consider all views.
“The government is open to receiving all kinds of views on how to improve current laws, whether relating to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) or other matters,” he said, Bernama reported.
“The Cabinet also takes note that a court case has been filed challenging the JAC Act itself. So the Cabinet will examine the matter.”
Fahmi added that since the Madani Government came into office, more than 80 Bills have been tabled in Parliament to either amend existing laws or introduce new legislation, reflecting its commitment to strengthening democratic institutions.
His comments follow remarks by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat at the recent Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta, where she called for the removal of the Prime Minister’s role in appointing judges.
She said such a move would reinforce the impartiality of the selection process and reduce perceptions of political influence.
Tengku Maimun emphasised that while constitutional safeguards exist, such as security of tenure and the JAC’s oversight, past incidents — including the 1988 judicial crisis — illustrate that institutional protections alone are not always sufficient to shield the judiciary from external pressure.
Her comments drew criticism from former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament), Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, who labelled them “unprofessional” and damaging to Malaysia’s image.
Nazri argued that by making the remarks abroad, Tengku Maimun had portrayed the country as lawless and undermined the Prime Minister.
“As Chief Justice, she should not make statements suggesting that the Prime Minister interferes in judicial affairs,” he said in a recent media report, accusing her of tarnishing the Madani Government’s image internationally.
Also present during Fahmi’s visit were Perak Communications, Multimedia and NGOs Committee chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi and Barisan Nasional’s Ayer Kuning by-election candidate, Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir. — April 13, 2025