Friday 21 September 2007

Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz's Role in Triggering the Constitutional Crisis with the Council of Malay Rulers

From Malaysia-Today

by

Raja Petra Kamarudin

UPDATE:

Prime Minister Badawi's Response to the "Judgment Fixing Scandal" Video Clip

"... This issue is important as it has caused a lot of damage to the country's judiciary system.

The video was released with the aim of getting the people angry with the country's judiciary system.

If the evidence show what transpired in the video was not the truth, action should be taken against those who released the video, as well as all those who lodged ACA reports. I am disappointed. "

Asked whether a special commission would be set up to investigate the case, he said:

"There is NO need for one." Read here for more



Quote:

"... It is an open secret that the Prime Minister wanted a TWO YEAR extension to (Chief Justice Ahmad) Fairuz’s contract. But this was rejected by the Agong and his brother Rulers.

As a temporary arrangement, the PM asked the Agong to appoint (Chief Justice Ahmad)Fairuz on a THREE-MONTH contract. The Agong is still holding back his agreement on this matter.

This whole affair, yet again, shows the Prime Minister’s duplicity.

Instead of doing what the people want, the Prime Minister is still trying to keep the rot afloat by working with (Chief Justice Ahmad) Fairuz.

It is a shame that today our (Malay) Rulers have to step in to defend the Constitution and rebuild our much-battered institutions.
.."
-Raja Petra Kamarudin



Excerpts: Read here for more

".... Recently, the government openly declared that Malaysia is not on the verge of another Constitutional Crisis, 20 years after the first two.

Actually this is NOT true.

Malaysia is ALREADY embroiled in a Constitution Crisis.

But those who walk in the corridors of power are trying to hide this fact from us.

The following is self-explanatory and demonstrates what I am trying to say:

Two names, Nik Hashim and Hashim Yusof, were given by the CJ (Ahmad Fairuz) , both whom are ‘kaki bodek’, as possible candidates to replace him.

BOTH these candidates were REJECTED by the (Council of ) Rulers.

After their elimination, as a consolation, they (Nik Hashim and Hashim Yusof) were promoted to the Appeals Court.

Since the Rulers had rejected Nik Hashim and Hashim Yusof, the next in line would be Justice Dato Abdul Hamid Mohamed and Justice Dato Alauddin Mohd. Sherif.

But the CJ does NOT favour these two because they are independent-minded, apolitical and well-known for their integrity.

The CJ bypassed these two on the pretext that both are close to retirement in a year or two.

On the Rulers’ insistence, the PM and the CJ had no choice but to accept Justice Hamid as President of the Court of Appeal and Justice Alauddin as the Chief Justice of Malaya. Both of them were appointed by the Agong on 5 September 2007.

On the same day of the above two appointments, a senior lawyer from the private sector, Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi, 62 years old, became the first person to be directly-appointed to the Federal Court.

He is UMNO’s Legal Adviser and a member of its Disciplinary Committee plus is Fairuz’s ‘kaki’ from the Kedah days.

His leaving a lucrative private sector practice where he was making millions a month in legal fees -- repeat, millions a month -- raises questions in the minds of the members of the bench, the chattering class, and some important MPs on both sides of the political aisle.

The speculation is that he could probably succeed Fairuz as CJ.

It is an open secret that the Prime Minister wanted a two year extension to Fairuz’s contract.
But this was rejected by the Agong and his brother Rulers.

As a temporary arrangement, the PM asked the Agong to appoint Fairuz on a three-month contract. The Agong is still holding back his agreement on this matter.

This whole affair, yet again, shows the PM’s duplicity. Here is a God-given chance to do something about our Judiciary, which has been systematically destroyed over the last 25 years.
Instead of doing something about it, which is what the people want, the PM is still trying to keep the rot afloat by working with Fairuz.

It is a shame that today our Rulers have to step in to defend the Constitution and rebuild our much-battered institutions.

It is also a sad reflection of our UMNO-led governance. You have to expose this and do not worry about the authenticity of the information as my information is from impeccable sources.

You will be doing Malaysians a great public service by exposing this latest Constitutional Crisis.

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