08-20-2022, 05:57 PM
THE Malaysian Bar is deeply perturbed by the statements made by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, alleging that the Federal Court’s decision to deny former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s motion to adduce additional evidence in the case of Datuk Seri Najib Razak v Public Prosecutor erodes judicial integrity.
It is for obvious reasons that politicians should not be trying to win in the court of public opinion by issuing statements without understanding the application of law and the concept of relevancy, vis-à-vis the subject matter of a case. This sort of behaviour is tantamount to an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
It is pertinent to note that the exercise of judicial authority is a fundamental aspect of the judiciary under our constitutional structure. This allows judges to decide on a case-by-case basis, based on the merits of each case presented before them, and cogent reasons for decisions are given in the form of grounds of judgment.
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