Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 4^th December 2009:

Transfer of three judges - does not speak well of the Government’s respect for the judiciary

Justice Lau Bee Lan, Justice Mohd Ariff and Justice Alizatul Khair binti Osman Khairuddin are being transferred from the Appellate and Special Powers Division and the Civil Division respectively to the Commercial Division at the High Court, Kuala Lumpur with effect from 1.1.2010.

It is obvious these judges are being transferred because they have, of late, given judgments against the establishment.

The Government should be mature enough to accept decisions of courts judgments of which go against it. The transfer of the three judges concerned does not speak well of the Government’s regard and respect for the judiciary which is the third arm of the Government itself or for that matter for the Rule of Law.

The Chief Justice, Tun Zaki Tun Azmi, has in various public pronouncements stated that judges should act without fear or favour. However, it would appear it is the Chief Justice himself who is now directing the transfer of these three judges obviously for the reason that their judgments have not found favour with the establishment.

I call upon the Chief Justice to publicly state the reasons why he has directed the transfer of these three judges. In the public interest, the Chief Justice should respond forthwith.

* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit Gelugor