17/07/2025

THURSDAY | JULY 17, 2025

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Comptroller receives appreciation letter KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim presented a letter of appreciation and a souvenir to the Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Datuk Zailani Hashim, who will retire from public service tomorrow. According to a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page, the ceremony was held at Istana Negara yesterday. “His Majesty expressed his deepest appreciation to Datuk Zailani for his dedication and service during his tenure as the Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara since 2024.” Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani has been appointed to replace Zailani, effective July 1. Prior to the appointment, Azmi served as the Johor state secretary. – Bernama Aboriginal Peoples Act being amended WELLINGTON: The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) is being amended after more than seven decades without a review, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said Malaysia is drawing inspiration from the empowerment model of the Maori community in New Zealand in making the amendments. He said among the key elements introduced by the New Zealand government, and potentially adaptable in Malaysia, are land ownership rights, more inclusive access to education and the establishment of dedicated financing agencies to support indigenous entrepreneurship. “Act 134 is 71 years old, and many aspects need to be re-examined. Here in New Zealand, we are not only studying land ownership issues but also rights in education, business and financing,” he said at a media conference at Rumah Malaysia yesterday. He said New Zealand’s approach could not be adopted wholesale as it must be adapted to suit the needs and realities of the Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development minister, is on a five-day working visit to New Zealand, which ends tomorrow. He said amendments to Act 134 are at the preliminary draft stage, with stakeholder engagement ongoing involving various parties, including Orang Asli academics and professionals. He added that the Orang Asli Development Department, which falls under his ministry, has been tasked with restructuring the community development ecosystem to ensure that it goes beyond basic needs such as infrastructure and education. “The aim of the amendments are not to deny rights but to strengthen protection for the Orang Asli community. “It will go through Cabinet-level discussions before being tabled in Parliament, debated, voted on and subsequently presented to the King for his consent for gazetting.” – Bernama

ENCOURAGING EXCELLENCE ... The King presenting a scholarship to Low Ka Ling, a civil servant who is pursuing a course in pharmacy and pharmacology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, during a ceremony at Istana Negara yesterday to bestow the Yang di-Pertuan Agong scholarships. – PIC COURTESY OF SULTAN IBRAHIM SULTAN ISKANDAR FACEBOOK PAGE

‘CJ mustembodyintegrity, competence and impartiality’

o Appointment must be free from political influence and made through transparent process, say legal professionals

commitment to constitutional values and the rule of law.” He said candidates should have a strong jurisprudential background, the ability to produce high-quality judgments and command the respect of both judges and the legal fraternity. “Moving forward, with a growing number of high-profile and potentially controversial cases, some with political undertones, the stakes for judicial independence are extremely high.” Salim said the appointments present an opportunity for the judiciary to show its independence and reflect the government’s commitment to reform. “Public confidence will be diminished if it is not perceived as independent in fact and in appearances.” Constitutional law expert associate professor Datuk Dr Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain said the issue surrounding the chief justice appointment does not directly affect judicial independence as defined under the Constitution. He said Article 122B provides that judges are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the prime minister’s advice, after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. “Before the prime minister tenders his advice, he is also required to consult the chief justice, and when necessary, the Court of Appeal president, chief judges and the chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak.”

PETALING JAYA: The individual set to be appointed as Malaysia’s new chief justice must embody the highest standards of integrity, competence and impartiality, qualities that legal professionals say are crucial to maintaining public trust in an independent judiciary. With growing scrutiny over the selection process, they caution that the appointment must be free from political influence and made through a transparent process. Lawyer Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu said recent developments and media scrutiny have highlighted the need for judicial candidates to possess unimpeachable integrity and a clean record. “At the end of the day, it is crucial that the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) provides proper feedback and recommendations based on merit, integrity and competency.” He said while Article 122B of the Federal Constitution provides for the appointment of the chief justice by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the process must be guided by transparency and the rule of law. “This appointment is crucial not just for the judiciary but for society at large to ensure continued confidence in the judicial system Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

and its independence.” Baljit said appointing the right person based on merit would reflect the government’s commitment to the rule of law and send a positive message to the public. “It’s not just about filling a vacancy, it’s about ensuring that the judiciary moves forward with the right leadership. “The current prime minister is perhaps the best person to appreciate the true meaning of judicial independence, having himself undergone the full rigour of the legal process. “The public must not feel that there were any backroom dealings or hidden agendas. Transparency in the process is key to preserving trust in the judiciary.” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said on Tuesday that the appointment of the chief justice and other top judicial positions would be announced by the Conference of Rulers on Wednesday. However, as of press time, no official announcement has been made. Former Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir said a chief justice and other judicial appointees must possess a wide range of qualities, including a keen understanding of the judiciary’s challenges. “The appointee must be a person of the highest integrity, with a firm adherence to judicial ethics, someone who is independent minded and demonstrates a strong

Wan Ahmad said there is no constitutional provision requiring the prime minister to consult JAC, nor does any federal law limit his discretion in the matter. Rulers conference discusses key issues, including judicial appointments KUALA LUMPUR: National security, judicial appointments and a

Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah and the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. Also in attendance were the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, Tunku Temenggong of Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim and the Tengku Arif Bendahara of Pahang Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah. – Bernama

Additionally, the conference was briefed on the need to register marriages involving refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, as well as a Cabinet Paper concerning a centralised policy for the management of seized and forfeited assets. Among those present were the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah, Sultan of Kedah

and the chief justice. “The conference also took note of a proposal to impose a complete ban on the sale and use of vape or electronic cigarettes in the country. “Legal opinions from the 126th and 127th Meetings of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Muzakarah Committee, as well as resolutions from the 2025 Special Meeting of the Muzakarah Committee, were also tabled.”

briefings on national security from the Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, and on national defence from the Chief of Defence Forces Jen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.” Syed Danial said the meeting also deliberated on judicial appointments to the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and high courts, as well as the position of chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Court of Appeal president

proposed ban on vape were among key issues discussed at the 269th Conference of Rulers held at Istana Negara yesterday. The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said in a statement that the meeting was chaired by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. “The Conference received