Najib’s tea with judges
(The Malaysian Insider) – Both the judiciary and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak have weighed in on the tea party with judges last Wednesday that some have said is improper in the context of the separation of powers.
Top lawyer Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah wrote at length in an article published today in the New Straits Times, leading off with: “We should no longer tolerate this culture of impunity Malaysians have become almost accustomed to in relation to inaccurate news reporting by some media and the twisted interpretations others have provided them with over innocent interactions between members of the administration.”
The senior lawyer added: “In The Malaysian Insider on Wednesday, unnecessary attention and space was provided over the innocuous invitation and the resulting visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the Palace of Justice that evening for tea with the judges.
“Quite obviously, a tour of the court facilities, especially the computerisation of the court processes that has been largely responsible for the speedy disposal of case backlog, became a focal point of attention. After all, the court, through the prime minister, had authorised some RM100 million as budget for the scheme.”
True.
But do judges have to be in attendance? After all, it’s in the state’s interest to provide facilities for the judiciary to ensure rule of law — a quality that appeals to ordinary citizens and investors. Everyone has a stake in the law, no? Here we agree with Shafee.
It is both in the interest of the judiciary and the prime minister that his visit to the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya is not seen as an attempt to influence the judiciary. Which means Najib could have visited the august courthouse at any other time instead of during the annual conference of judges.
Also, the prime minister has been subpoenaed as a witness in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial. Is it proper for a witness to fraternise with the judges? Even if he is the prime minister?
