Sabah lawyers walk for Judiciary Independence

17 June 2022

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: Some 100 Sabah lawyers have gone on a 2.3KM parade from Damai Multipurpose Hall to the Kota Kinabalu court complex for the Malaysian Bar’s Walk for Judicial Independence at 10.30 am today.

Sabah Law Society leader Roger Chin said an estimated 130 lawyers took part in the walk which was also simultaneously conducted near Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur.

The walk was in protest of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into senior judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, among others, participated by some 1,000 lawyers in Kuala Lumpur.

On April 23, local media reported that MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that the commission had initiated an investigation involving Court of Appeals Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali over allegations of unexplained money in his account after reports were lodged on the matter.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Sabah Law Society Presiden Roger chin condemned interference, whether explicit or otherwise, at all material times, with the independence of the Judiciary, and breaches of the fundamental principle of separation of powers.

"We respectfully urge and earnestly hope that YAB Dato’ Sri will take into account the aforesaid concerns, will condemn the propriety and manner of the investigation commenced by the MACC towards a Judge, and will take all measures and reasonable actions available to uphold and protect the independence of the Judiciary and to preserve public confidence in the Judiciary, including measures of legislative reform so that the parameters and the law on the process of addressing allegations of misconduct against judges are set, clarified and refined to ensure the independence of the Judiciary is continually preserved for the betterment of our country and the general public."