MP wants actions against Bar

(Bernama) – A member of parliament has called on the government to take action against the Bar Council for distributing circulars to its members on the appointment of judges.

Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) said the circulars, dated Aug 25, 2009, and Sept 28, 2009, and signed by the Bar Council secretary, were survey forms for feedback on judiciary performance which members were asked to fill.

Members of the Bar Council could download the forms from the website, he said when debating the Judges’ Ethics Committee Bill 2008 in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said the action by the Bar Council was wrong, improper, disrespectful and unlawful because of the availability of the Judicial Appointment Commission Act 2008 which had just been approved.

“This Bar Council is led by those with experience and well versed in law, but they conduct a survey , which I think is an attempt to influence the appointment of judges and the forms can be abused,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim said the government should expedite the trial of Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case.