Tun Ariffin Zakaria, the Chief Justice has issued a stern warning against anyone throwing insults or baseless allegations against it. He said that the judiciary do not mind any criticisms but anything negative of that kind would have action taken against them.
In fact, he said that critics should not go overboard when making any statements about the judiairy or they could be facing contempt charges. He also said that the judiciary can only react to criticisms through sound judgement which is different as compared to the executive and the legislature. He said that claims like judges making lousy judgments would be liable for insulting the court charges.
On top of that, the judiciary should also counter any sort of perceptions which are negative targeted to it. He told the judiciary that the impression and perception among the people have been good so far. In fact, members of the international commerce and industry organisation has voiced their satisfaction of quality judgments to him and that they are also confident of the independence of the judiciary.
Efficiency is at a current high where commercial cases filed at the High Court takes no more than 6 months to dispose. It would take 3 months more if an appeal is filed while another 3 months needed if they are to extend to the federal levels. This process is much longer in the likes of Singapore in which it takes at least 18 months.
He added that reforms have begun and was executed during the time of Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi and that the judiciary is not biased and apolitical and that unlike some negative perceptions, do not bow down to any executive, especially when sitting in and delivering judgments. According to Zaki then, the verdicts of cases like that which involved Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwr Ibrahim and the Felda settlers showed that the judiciary was independent.
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