ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS FORMALISED

JAKARTA, July 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and six other founding members Monday
signed the Jakarta Declaration for the establishment of an Association of
Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions.

The association brings together seven Asian countries, namely Indonesia,
South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and Uzbekistan in
enhancing close cooperation in the promotion of the rule of law, democracy and
human rights through the exchanges of experiences and information on
constitutional cases and jurisprudence.

Malaysia was represented by Chief Justice of the Federal Court, Zaki Azmi,
Indonesia by its Constitutional Court President Mohammad Mahfud MD, South
Korea by its Constitutional Court Justice Dong-Heub Lee, Mongolia by the
Chairman of its Constitutional Court Jamsran Byambadorj.

The Philippines was represented by its Justice of the Supreme Court Mariano
C. Del Castillo, Thailand by the President of its Constitutional Court Chut
Chonlavorn and Uzbekistan by the Deputy Chairman of its Constitutional Court
Bakhtiyar Mirbabaev.

Speaking to Malaysian journalists, Zaki said the formation of the
association was aimed at promoting a better rule of law for the implementation
of the basic constitutional rights and individual freedom.

"We have had several preparatory meetings in Mongolia and Seoul since
2005 and finally all the seven founding members today signed the Jakarta
Declaration to formalise its establishment," he said.

He said the members adopted the statute of the association and
officially launched it while its inaugural congress would be held in South Korea
(current chair), within the next two years.

The association, he said is open to other Asian countries and currently some
30 countries had expressed their interest in wanting to become members.

It is independent and non-political and members consisting of constitutional
court judges and judges equivalent to constitutional courts, would exchange
experiences and information on a shared concern on constitutional cases and
jurisprudence, Zaki said.

Malaysia does not have a constitutional court and Constitutional matters are
brought before the normal courts and the highest court is the Federal Court.

Over the next two days, the founding members will be presenting working
papers to discuss the laws practiced in their respective countries and on
Tuesday Zaki will present a paper entitled "The Election System in Malaysia".
-- BERNAMA