If the Sarawak BN government does not even have the courage to stand up against the sidelining of the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum, what confidence can we Sarawakians have on the Sarawak Government fighting for Sarawak’s autonomy against the Federal UMNO-BN Government?
Richard Melanjum is the most senior Federal Court judge and is now holding the 4th highest post in the Judiciary as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. According to the Federal Constitutional provisions, the present Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato Seri Md Raus bin Sharif, shall retire on 3-8-2017, having reached the age of 66 years old plus 6 months. By right, upon Md Raus’s retirement, the most senior Federal Court judge stands a good chance to be promoted to the post of Chief Justice (the highest judicial post in Malaysia).
However, Najib, acting in contravention to the Federal Constitution, advised the King to extend the tenure of Md Raus by another 3 years. Such act is unprecedented in the history of Malaysia.
By extending Md Raus’ term by another 3 years, Najib is literally sidelining and depriving Richard Melanjum the prospect of being promoted to the highest post in Judiciary.
Since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, for 54 years, there has never been a judge from Sabah or Sarawak being appointed to be the Chief Justice of the country. Such track record runs counter to the spirit of equal partnership in the formation of Malaysia by the 3 regions, ie. the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak and renders the judiciary of Sabah and Sarawak regions as subordinate to its counterpart in West Malaysia.
The Federal Constitution allows for a Sarawakian or Sabahan Judge to be appointed as the Chief Justice. Yet, in practice, the BN Government has chosen rather to act in such manner which is questionably unconstitutional than to allow a Sabahan Judge to be appointed as the Chief Justice.
This is blatant disregard of the provision of the federal constitution n the ma63 spirit n also discrimination against Sabah n sarawak.
If the Sarawak BN government does not have the courage to speak up against the unfair implementation of those existing provisions of the Federal constitution, how then will the Sarawak BN government dare to speak up for something that is not within the Federal constitution and fight for more autonomy for Sarawak.
The sidelining of the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak has proven three things:
- The discriminatory policy against Sabah and Sarawak continues to be practiced by the BN Government despite the fact that BN owes its federal power to Sabah and Sarawak;
- The inability of the Sarawak BN and the Sabah BN to fight for “equal partner” treatment in the Federation of Malaysia; and
- The erosion of Sabah n Sarawak’s state rights will continue so long as BN continues to govern the Country.
If such blatant side-lining of the Chieg Judge of Sabah and Sarawak can happen right under the watchful eyes of the whole country, the situation is even much worse for those serving in federal ministries and government agencies. That is the reason why many Sabahan and Sarawakian are side-lined in promotion to the top posts in many Federal Ministries and Government Agencies.
Therefore, under the leadership of Abang Jo, all the talks about “fighting for Sarawak autonomy” by the Sarawak BN is now a mere illusion.
From the time I release of this press statement, the Sarawak BN still has less than 48 hrs to redeem itself and convince sarawakians that it has the guts and principle to stand up against its political master Umno by fighting against the extension of the tenure of Md Raus and fight for the appointment of Richard Malanjum as the Chief Justice of Malaysia.