SUARAM
MEPERJUANGKAN HAK ASASI MANUSIA SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA WORKING TOWARDS HUMAN RIGHTS

383 (1st Floor), Jalan 5/59, Petaling Gardens, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 603-77843525, 77820357 Fax: 603-77843526
Email:suaram@geocities.com http://www.suaram.org

PRESS STATEMENT: 23 JANUARY 2001
APPOINTMENT OF MOHTAR:
WHAT HAPPENED TO JUDICIAL REFORMS ?

Last year the Malaysian public was relieved with the retirement of Tan Sri Mohtar Abdullah as the Attorney General and Tun Eusoff Chin at the Chief Justice. Public confidence in the independence of the judiciary was at the lowest during both their tenure. There were serious concerns both locally and internationally on the Independence of the Judiciary. This opinion is further strengthened by the report in April 2000 by the International bar Association, the ICJ's Centre of Independence of Judges and Lawyers, the commonwealth Lawyers' Association and the Union International Des Avocats who released a damming report on Malaysian Judiciary titled, " Justice in Jeopardy: Malaysia 2000. The Malaysian Government has yet to respond to this report which is well received by most Malaysians.

The timely retirement of the both and the crucial appointment of Dzaiddin as Chief Justice seemed to hold some hope for the Judiciary. Malaysians were hoping that the Judiciary will revive and things will be better. The new Chief Justice also had expressed that his immediate task is to redeem the Judiciary to its past glory. This has created some hope never before experienced in the last few years.

The announcement of Tan Sri Mohtar as a Federal Court Judge today has rippled this illusion.
SUARAM is very disappointed with the appointment of Mohtar as a federal Court Judge. The appointment of Mohtar today will no doubt cast a dark shadow in the process of judicial reforms. Mohtar's appointment today also seems to suggest that he has been rewarded for his good performance as the Attorney General but the true facts cannot be erased. During Mohtar's Tenure as the AG, his credibility was always questioned and he has been accused for practicing selective prosecution. He even threatened his critics in May 1999, that those who accuse the government of selective prosecution would be charged with criminal defamation and sedition.

With his appointment, and the doubts he brings along, the whole judiciary is indeed in jeopardy. SUARAM views this appointment with disappointment and will remain to be cautious and be suspicious on the so called judicial reforms.


Released by :


S.Arutchelvan
Coordinator




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Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
add: 383, 1ST FLOOR, JALAN 5/59, PETALING GARDENS
46000 PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
tel: 60-3-77843525 fax: 77843526
email: suaram@geocities.com website:http://www.suaram.org