PUTRAJAYA (Jan 14): Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said on Friday (Jan 14) that she had never been approached by certain quarters to intervene in matters of the court in order to set several high profile individuals free from criminal charges.
Speaking to the media at a press conference here after officiating the Opening of the Legal year 2022 at the Palace of Justice here, Tengku Maimun also said while she had not been approached personally, judges decide cases according to evidence and the law.
“Judges make decisions on facts, evidence and testimonies and that is the principle. That is the core principle,” she said.
Tengku Maimun was referring to the keynote address at the ceremony by Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas Krishnan, who alluded to a press conference by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who shortly before he stepped down as premier last year said he was under pressure from “certain parties” to intervene in matters of the court in order to set several individuals free from criminal charges.
Muhyiddin said this in a nationally televised address, adding that he did not bow to these demands.
“This included pressure for me to intervene in matters of the court to release several individuals who were charged with criminal offences,” Muhyiddin had then said.
Kalidas on Friday said it is the responsibility of each of the nation’s institutions to ensure that no one is above the law.
“It is the responsibility of each of our institutions to ensure that no one is above the law, irrespective of their political or social affiliations,” he said.
In response to that, Tengku Maimun said that to her knowledge, none of the judges had been approached by these parties as she herself had never been approached.
“We heard from the televised address that the former prime minister (Muhyiddin) said that he was approached, but none of us have been approached,” the Chief Justice of Malaysia said.
“I can say for myself that I have not been approached and I don’t think any of my colleagues have been approached,” she added.
“The former prime minister stated that [from what I understand] people contacted him but it was not stated anywhere that he then contacted the judiciary,” she said.
She then said judges will decide matters according to the evidence and the law as the courts are bound by them.
“That will be our answer if there are any such calls,” Tengku Maimun said.
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