KUALA LUMPUR: Comments on court decisions without understanding the matter will only lead to chaos, said Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
Following the Federal Court's decision on Aug 23 to uphold former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's guilty verdict for graft charges, she said comments by some individuals, including politicians, were solely based on sentiments.
"If you don't understand, then ask. If you still don't understand even after reading (the judgment), you ask.
"Ask the right people. Don't jump to conclusions without fully understanding the decision. Comments like that would only bring chaos," she said after attending the second National Litigation Conference 2022 organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee (KLBC).
She expressed gratitude for the support shown by the Bar Council which had issued a statement in support of the decision against Najib.
She said everything she mentioned in her speech during the first National Litigation Conference in 2019 had materialised, in reference to, among others, the judiciary being the subject of attack at times and that "an institution meant to protect the liberty of a subject from tyranny is itself quite defenceless".
She had also stressed the importance of seeking other avenues for legal redress and for lawyers to remind their colleagues and clients of the need to respect the court decisions.
The act of mocking or spreading vitriol on the judiciary was no different from cutting off one's nose to spite the face, she said.
She said the independence, impartiality and integrity of judges were critically important in the administration of justice.
Tengku Maimun led a five-member Federal Court bench which moved to dismiss Najib's final appeal against his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction.
She ordered for a warrant of committal to be issued, and said that the sentence imposed, 12 years' jail and a RM210 million fine, was not excessive.
While some had thrown criticism at the apex court, other Malaysians lauded the decision saying that the historic verdict was proof of judicial independence in the country.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee chairman Vivek Sukumaran in his speech said the conference, which saw over 200 participants from the law fraternity, was vital in enhancing their legal knowledge and to that they were equipped with the right technology and skills.
Meanwhile, KL Bar Committee honorary treasurer and conference organising chairman S. Saravana Kumar said like courts, lawyers played an equally important role in upholding the rule of law and in achieving justice.
"We have many High Court judges present here today, who will one day be destined to be the leaders of our judiciary including as the future Chief Justice of Malaysia.
"It is our fervent hope that judges will continue the good work of Tengku Maimun. Echoing the assurance of the chairman of KL Bar, the judiciary is always assured the continued support of the Kuala Lumpur Bar," he said.