The battered image of the judiciary could only be redeemed by wide-ranging systematic reforms involving the cooperation of other branches of government and all sectors of society, said DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang today.

Lim said that new Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah must realise that the restoration of an independent judiciary is not merely an image or public relations problem.

"For a start, there should be a full recognition of the rights of everyone in Malaysia to equal and impartial justice administered by fair and independent judges," he said in a statement.

"Secondly, it should also be recognised that the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary depend primarily upon public confidence," added Lim.

Lim said that the Malaysian Bar must start to play an active role to uphold and protect the independence, impartiality and integrity of the Malaysian judiciary.

Lawyers' role

He said that Dzaiddin, who replaced Eusoff Chin as the chief justice on Dec 20, must encourage lawyers and the Bar Council to come forward to take a leading role in protecting the judiciary.

They can also help to identify and remove the causes of eroding confidence in the judicial system, said Lim.

Lim added that until now, lawyers and the council are at risk of being cited for contempt of court for being concerned about issues of judicial independence.

"In other countries, lawyers together with judges, legal academics and civil society representatives actively participate to uphold and protect the values of an independent, accountable and efficient judiciary," he said.

Lim said that Dzaiddin's place in the Malaysian and international judiciary history will be determined by his ability to save the judiciary and restore it to become independent and deliver a just rule of law.

"For the past 12 years, the Malaysian system of justice became a national and international scandal because it was seen as an engine of oppression and denial of the rights of the people," he said.

Right track

Lim said that Dzaiddin was on the right track in undertaking to improve the judiciary by urging court officials to raise their ethical standards to avoid lowering the reputation of the institution in the public's eye.

Yesterday, Dzaiddin said that it was crucial for every judge and judicial officer to be mindful of their conduct both during and outside working hours so that there would not be allegations that could tarnish their image.

Dzaiddin expressed his hope to restore the integrity of the judiciary to its esteemed position, adding that he was confident with the cooperation of all quarters to face every challenge against the court.

Malaysian judiciary, under Eusoff's leadership, became a constant subject of adverse criticisms by the international legal and judicial community over the handling of many high profile cases, including the criminal cases involving former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

In April last year, four international legal organisations, including the International Bar Association, said in a report there were "well-founded" concerns about judicial independence in Malaysia.