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The Star - April 11, 2008
Raja Nazrin’s call reflects
aspirations of majority
TRANSPARENCY International-Malaysia warmly welcomes Raja
Nazrin’s clarion call to the Government to establish a
Judicial Commission to handle appointments and promotion
of judges.
Raja Nazrin fully reflects the aspirations of the vast
majority of Malaysians who want greater transparency and
integrity in our judiciary.
The proposed Judicial Commission would also enable the
judiciary to become more accountable for its quality,
impartiality and credibility, both in the minds of
Malaysians and the international community.
However, the setting up of the independent Judicial
Commission must also be followed through with the
appointment of eminent persons of high moral character
and competence, as rightly pointed out by the Chief
Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad.
The success of any independent commission can be
seriously impaired by the appointment of persons of weak
character and poor ability and for political patronage.
Similarly, TI-Malaysia also calls upon the Government to
announce soon the establishment of an independent ACA.
An independent judiciary cannot sustain its
effectiveness, integrity and credibility, if at the same
time the ACA does not have an independent
Anti-Corruption Commission, with full powers to ensure
that the Judicial Commission and the whole judicial
system, and indeed the Government at all levels, are not
corrupt.
While TI-Malaysia welcomes major structural changes that
will strengthen the judiciary and the ACA, it is even
more important for the Federal and State Governments to
rise to the occasion to adopt the “Spirit of
Renaissance” for the whole country .
This Renaissance Spirit should be applied to all levels
of Government and Governance, both in the public and
private sectors of our country, so that a reformed
judiciary and ACA themselves can long endure and survive
with higher standards.
Unless there is a comprehensive and concerted approach
taken by our Federal and State Governments to bring
about meaningful and positive changes right across the
board, and in an expeditious manner, any judicial or ACA
or other reforms, however laudable, will not be viable
in the long term.
The major problems in the rest of the political, social
and economic system, must also be adequately addressed
soon in order that good governance will prevail in the
whole country .
TI-Malaysia hopes that His Highness’ call for a
renaissance in the judiciary will be accepted and
extended to all aspects of governance in our country, in
keeping with the strong aspirations and expectations, as
expressed by all Malaysians in the last general
election.
TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATNAM,
President TI-M
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