(Miri, 9th)The current procedure allowing our country's Prime Minister to participate in the appointment of judges needs reform. Kelvin Hii, Sarawak United Peoples' Party Youth Central Vice President, stated that abolishing this procedure and amending the constitution is necessary to prevent law from being politicized or becoming a tool for any political stance.
Although law and politics are inevitably related, if the law is to truly achieve fairness, justice, and credibility, it must maintain some distance from politics. Our country's Prime Minister is elected and necessarily comes from a specific political coalition. Therefore, to allow judges to uphold justice in making any decision, no political considerations should influence their judgments.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun, speaking at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in St. Julian's Bay, Malta, suggested constitutional amendments to remove the Prime Minister's role in judicial appointments to strengthen the constitutional framework. Kelvin Hii expressed strong support for this suggestion and hopes that leaders of all political parties in our country will set aside political views to support this proposal, enabling judicial independence and enhancing judicial fairness.
Since 2018, our country has entered an era of political alternation. Under a democratic system, any party has the opportunity to form the government and nominate their candidate for Prime Minister. In a democratic system, disputes and conflicts inevitably arise in the process of gaining support to form a government. If the appointment of judges requires the Prime Minister's participation, the judiciary could potentially become a political tool. Removing the Prime Minister's power to appoint judges will make the judiciary more independent, ensuring citizens' fundamental rights are protected fairly and equitably.
Although law and politics are inevitably related, if the law is to truly achieve fairness, justice, and credibility, it must maintain some distance from politics. Our country's Prime Minister is elected and necessarily comes from a specific political coalition. Therefore, to allow judges to uphold justice in making any decision, no political considerations should influence their judgments.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun, speaking at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in St. Julian's Bay, Malta, suggested constitutional amendments to remove the Prime Minister's role in judicial appointments to strengthen the constitutional framework. Kelvin Hii expressed strong support for this suggestion and hopes that leaders of all political parties in our country will set aside political views to support this proposal, enabling judicial independence and enhancing judicial fairness.
Since 2018, our country has entered an era of political alternation. Under a democratic system, any party has the opportunity to form the government and nominate their candidate for Prime Minister. In a democratic system, disputes and conflicts inevitably arise in the process of gaining support to form a government. If the appointment of judges requires the Prime Minister's participation, the judiciary could potentially become a political tool. Removing the Prime Minister's power to appoint judges will make the judiciary more independent, ensuring citizens' fundamental rights are protected fairly and equitably.