KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today gave his assurance to members of the legal fraternity that his unity government will uphold judicial independence.
The prime minister pledged his assurance when he delivered his keynote address during the opening ceremony of the International Malaysia Law Conference 2023 here today.
"As I stand here today, I can say with utmost certainty that, since my taking office as prime minister, not only have I not encroached upon a single inch of this sacred terrain but that I shall defend, at all costs, the independence of the judiciary," he said.
Present at the ceremony were Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, Tunku Ampuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz and Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, who is also the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) founding president.
Also in attendance were Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim.
Anwar said the federal government understands the importance of judicial independence for the betterment of the nation.
"I was asked to give due consideration in my speech to the subject of judicial independence, but truth to be told, that prompting is quite unnecessary for I need no reminder about the imperative of such a topic.
"Having been personally subjected to the toss and turns, the ups and downs.. more downs than ups of the wheels of justice," he said.
Anwar said judicial independence may not be evident during "certain years in the past".
"Thanks to the blatant violation of the principle of separation of powers by those holding the reins of power not too long ago, we have witnessed the naked and brutal assault on the judiciary.
"This culminated in the emasculation of the judicial process itself particularly in cases involving politicians who had posed a serious threat to the powers that be.
"Being held to ransom by the said personalities, certain judges consequently made judicial decisions which completely offended against our sense of justice and good conscience," he said.
Anwar also applauded Tengku Maimum for her courageous role in strengthening the faith among the people towards the country's judiciary.
"And by this, I mean that thanks to her steadfast stand on the independence of her judicial office and that of her judicial brethren in the face of relentless attacks, the horizon for continued judicial independence appears bright and promising," he said.