Page 51 - PH Manifesto English

Promise 19: Restore public trust in the judicial and legal

institutions

The judicial and legal institutions are an important check and balance

mechanism in the country. These institutions must be independent and
they must have integrity, so that they are trusted by the people. But UMNO

and Barisan Nasional continue to plunder public trust in these institutions.

The Pakatan Harapan Government will ensure the appointment of judges

are based on merit and experience, regardless of political interest. The power

of the Prime Minister to influence the appointment of judges will be removed
so that there can be no abuse of power.

Membership of the Judicial Appointments Commission will be decided by a
Parliamentary Select Committee. The decision of this Committee will be

implemented after referring to the wisdom and discretion of the DYMM Yang

DiPertuan Agong and the Rulers’ Council.

We will ensure that the salaries, allowances and remuneration accorded to

judges, including judges of the Syariah Court, are commensurate to their
professionalism.

The appointment of the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of

Appeal through the backdoor as practiced by UMNO and Barisan Nasional

will be stopped immediately.

To ensure people fully trust the integrity of decisions made by the courts, a

new rule will be introduced so that judges must provide written judgments
each time they announce their judgement. If necessary, the judge can issue

a brief written judgement first, before the full version is released.

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