Read today's "The Aniza Damis Interview" with Ambiga Sreenevasan, President of the Malaysian Bar in the New Straits Times,
here.
Excerpts:
Q: Is there a crisis in the judiciary?
A: There is. It's a crisis of confidence. It's been present for a while.
Q: If the government doesn't do anything, what is the Bar going to do?
A: I think the Bar will be wanting to have an emergency general meeting. This cannot just go away without a full and thorough investigation. That is something we hope to persuade the government that has to be done.
Q: What options are open to you?
A: Our meeting with the prime minister -- that's a big option. And also by hearing from the members of the Bar at an EGM (on Nov 22), where we hope to communicate our views to the government. Those are the options we are looking at. We are still going to use persuasion.
Q: There was a suggestion at the recent Malaysian Law Conference for lawyers to go on strike from the courts for one day. Is that feasible?
A: We have discussed it. We have to be very careful in any steps we take. We have to be responsible -- first to our clients; secondly, we have to be careful not to pre-judge any issues. It's not something that we would easily do.
Q: The old chief justice is out. There is currently an acting-CJ, and there will be a new CJ. Have you thought of taking the minister's suggestion by going to the judiciary and asking them to reform?
A: We hope to write in and have a meaningful discussion, between the Bar and the Bench. We are hoping to see this new era, where there will be a lot of discussion. But even before this video-clip incident, the judiciary was already beginning to engage with the Bar. We were invited by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak (Tan Sri Richard Malanjum) to see the system in Sarawak. They are doing things to try to improve, and we want to help in that process. So, we do know that there are judges there who will engage with us. And we hope to continue with that process, and that we start this new era where we work together, in the interest of the administration of justice.
Q: The government says it's not going to reform the judiciary unless the judges want the reform.
A: Well, let's see. It may be something everybody can be united on. Hopefully soon.
