PUTRAJAYA (Jan 11): The Chief Justice of Malaysia Tan Sri Richard Malanjum has come out to defend the country's judiciary, saying that Malaysia's court is not the court of the mob.

"Our court is a court of law and not of the mob," he told an audience of some 500 people at the Opening of the Legal Year 2019 here today.

Malanjum's statement was based on the fact that there has been some negative perception of the country's judicial system as a result of unpopular decisions made by the judges.

"We are very conscious that one of the reasons why the public has a negative perception on the courts is that our decisions at times are not in tune with public feelings or the will of the majority," he said.

"Our response to this is a request for understanding on the functions of the courts," he added.

According to Malanjum, while the legislature is the will of the majority the court must remain the conscience of society so as to ensure that the rights and interests of the minority and the weak are safeguarded.