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Media Statement
by Karpal Singh  
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(Kuala Lumpur, Thursday) : Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s criticism of retired Court of Appeal judge, Datuk K.C. Vohrah, over the selection of judges is unwarranted when K.C. Vohrah alluded to the ‘old days’ when selection of judges was carried out ‘fairly accurately’. Vohrah was right that appointment of judges nowadays laxed transparency. As a judge, Vohrah was constrained from publicly commenting on the issue during his tenure as a judge. 

It is the general opinion of retired judges and the legal fraternity that there is a need to set up an independent judicial commission for the selection and promotion of judges. I cannot understand why the Government is afraid to set up such a commission. It is in the public interest that there should be an independent judicial commission.

(8/2/2007)