Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 2^nd September 2009:

Wrong for the Chief Justice to embark upon the task of policing judges and lawyers

When launching the New Commercial Courts (NCC), equipped with a computerized system along with electronic filing and tracking of cases, with the recording and monitoring of trials and SMS text alerts for interlocutory hearings, Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi remarked,

“Yes, Arifin (Chief Judge, Malaya) and I will be able to see which judges are working and whether lawyers are behaving themselves”

It is wrong for the Chief Justice to embark upon the task of policing judges and lawyers. Judges should be left to self-regulation in the execution of their duties in an atmosphere which allows for independence of the judiciary as universally understood. There is a presumption that personalities who are appointed judges are mature and expected to carry out their duties in a manner expected of their high office. Spying on judges and lawyers deflects from honour and integrity.

The Chief Justice, in adverting to being able to see whether lawyers are behaving themselves with the introduction of the new sophisticated equipment installed, demeans the legal profession. I have not come across lawyers misbehaving in the execution of their duties in court. The Chief Justice’s ill-choice of words certainly does not endear him to the legal profession. The Chief Justice should not unnecessarily antagonise the Bar of which he was once a member. He should not forget that it was the Bar which substantially contributed to his rise to the Bench.

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