©The Star (Used by permission)
by SHAILA KOSHY
KUALA LUMPUR: More lawyers should be appointed to the Bench for greater diversity in legal expertise and knowledge in the Judiciary, says Malaysian Bar president Lim Chee Wee.
“This will boost the depth and breadth of commercial knowledge and experience in our courtrooms, especially specialist courts such as the Commercial Courts, the Admiralty Court and when established, the Construction Court.”
He said this yesterday in congratulating the four new Eminent Persons in the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
If Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria's aspiration for a world class judiciary was to be realised, Lim said the JAC should ensure robust and frank debate about every candidate.
This includes their integrity, competence, diligence and intellect.
“JAC must work with the Malaysian Anti–Corruption Commission to vet every candidate to ensure no rotten apple is appointed to ruin the rest.”
He said no JAC member could afford to be a “yes man”.
The new members are former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Sulong Matjeraie and former Court of Appeal judges Datuk T. Selventhiranathan and Datuk Tee Ah Sing.
Members by virtue of their position in the judiciary are Arifin, who chairs the JAC, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Raus Sharif, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid Embong.
Lim added, however, that the Bar was disappointed that none of the candidates it supported from the Prime Minister's list or that proposed by the Bar were selected by the Prime Minister.
“We now have four members who are retired judges, in itself lacking in diversity, compared to the retired JAC members where one member was a former Attorney–General (Tan Sri Ainum Mohd Saaid).
On Jan 20, The Star had published the six names the Prime Minister had suggested for feedback from stakeholders former Federal Court judges Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohamad and Sulong, Malaysian Anti–Corruption Commission Advisory Board chairman Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh, former Court of Appeal judges Selventhiranathan and Tee, and Suhakam vice–chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee.
The Bar had supported two of the names and suggested Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam and former Suhakam vice–chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun as alternates.
Lim noted the English JAC had lawyers and academics among its members.