CJ Zaki comes under renewed attack
Shingyee KohPublished: Feb 14, 2009 3:57 AM | Updated: Feb 15, 2009 6:55 AM
Veteran politician Karpal Singh has embarked on another tirade against Chief Justice Zaki Azmi - this time on the latter’s appointment as chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Veteran politician Karpal Singh has embarked on another tirade against Chief Justice Zaki Azmi - this time on the latter’s appointment as chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
In recent months, he came out strongly against Zaki following his appointment as head of the judiciary. Karpal had said that Zaki was not fit to become chief justice “because he had openly admitted that he bribed court officials when he was a practicing lawyer in 1987.”
Yesterday, Karpal charged Zaki for the same ‘crime’ - stating in similar fashion why the chief justice was unfit to head the JAC.
“Zaki’s appointment as JAC chairperson is not a step in the right direction”, he said.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the appointment of three ex-judges and a former attorney-general as part of the JAC headed by Zaki.
Karpal who is DAP chairperson said that “the government should seriously reconsider the appointment of Zaki to head JAC.”
On Nov 8 last year, Zaki was quoted by the media as saying that in 1987, he had been “blacklisted” when he complained to the chief registrar of two missing files.
“It took me six months to be nice, to bribe each and every individuals to get back into their good books before our files were attended to,” he was alleged to have said.
However, Zaki had clarified the matter, claiming that the media had misinterpreted what he said during a speech at a Kuching conference.
According to Karpal, Zaki’s clarification did not specifically deny an earlier report on the issue which was published in the New Straits Times and “this reflects that he was aware of corruption in the court registry, but did not report the matter.”
“The judiciary needs persons of integrity, honesty and above all, absolute commitment in acting without fear or favour in the cause of justice…
“Zaki is tainted, and therefore, does not have the right moral or otherwise, to head the Judicial Appointments Commission.” he added.
Police's double standards
Karpal had lodged a police report regarding this matter on Nov 13 last year. However, he was disappointed that no statement has been recorded from him up to now.
He questioned the double standards of the police force, saying that two police reports were lodged against him over his statement on the Perak Sultan, and he was immediately called to give a statement.
“Why the double standards? My statement has been recorded in such unholy haste while in the case of my reports against the chief justice, lodged as far back as Nov 13 last year, the police have yet to record my statement?” Karpal said
The veteran parliamentarian said that he will file a motion in Parliament on Monday to discuss the conduct of the head of JAC.
Meanwhile, the Bar Council was also not impressed with the new JAC line-up. Its former president, Yeo Yang Poh, said that it "lacks the required mixture of cross-sectional representation."
"We are talking about the judiciary and it is extremely (important) for the public service. Any public service must involve consumers and stakeholders and in this case, the civil society.
"But this is not a balanced mixture," said Yeo.
In recent months, he came out strongly against Zaki following his appointment as head of the judiciary. Karpal had said that Zaki was not fit to become chief justice “because he had openly admitted that he bribed court officials when he was a practicing lawyer in 1987.”
Yesterday, Karpal charged Zaki for the same ‘crime’ - stating in similar fashion why the chief justice was unfit to head the JAC.
“Zaki’s appointment as JAC chairperson is not a step in the right direction”, he said.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the appointment of three ex-judges and a former attorney-general as part of the JAC headed by Zaki.
Karpal who is DAP chairperson said that “the government should seriously reconsider the appointment of Zaki to head JAC.”
On Nov 8 last year, Zaki was quoted by the media as saying that in 1987, he had been “blacklisted” when he complained to the chief registrar of two missing files.
“It took me six months to be nice, to bribe each and every individuals to get back into their good books before our files were attended to,” he was alleged to have said.
However, Zaki had clarified the matter, claiming that the media had misinterpreted what he said during a speech at a Kuching conference. According to Karpal, Zaki’s clarification did not specifically deny an earlier report on the issue which was published in the New Straits Times and “this reflects that he was aware of corruption in the court registry, but did not report the matter.”
“The judiciary needs persons of integrity, honesty and above all, absolute commitment in acting without fear or favour in the cause of justice…
“Zaki is tainted, and therefore, does not have the right moral or otherwise, to head the Judicial Appointments Commission.” he added.
Police's double standards
Karpal had lodged a police report regarding this matter on Nov 13 last year. However, he was disappointed that no statement has been recorded from him up to now.
He questioned the double standards of the police force, saying that two police reports were lodged against him over his statement on the Perak Sultan, and he was immediately called to give a statement.
“Why the double standards? My statement has been recorded in such unholy haste while in the case of my reports against the chief justice, lodged as far back as Nov 13 last year, the police have yet to record my statement?” Karpal said The veteran parliamentarian said that he will file a motion in Parliament on Monday to discuss the conduct of the head of JAC.
Meanwhile, the Bar Council was also not impressed with the new JAC line-up. Its former president, Yeo Yang Poh, said that it "lacks the required mixture of cross-sectional representation."
"We are talking about the judiciary and it is extremely (important) for the public service. Any public service must involve consumers and stakeholders and in this case, the civil society.
"But this is not a balanced mixture," said Yeo.
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