ID :
27516
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 17:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/27516
The shortlink copeid
JUDICIAL REFORM AT FOREFRONT OF GOVT AGENDA - PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday that Malaysia's effort in judicial reform remains at the forefront of the government's agenda.
He said that in April this year, he had announced the establishment of an
independent judicial appointments commission and the work on the relevant
legislation was progressing well.
"The government aims to table the relevant legislation to establish the
commission by the end of the year, InsyaAllah (God Willing)," he said when
delivering his keynote address at the 21st LawAsia Conference at the Kuala
Lumpur Convention Centre here.
The three-day conference was organised jointly by the Malaysian Bar Council
and the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LawAsia).
Abdullah said the judicial appointments commission was not merely desirable
in Malaysia but a necessity.
"The present system of judicial appointments has given rise to questions on
the judiciary's integrity and credibility. Such a commission will provide a
structured, transparent and merit-based appointment process," he said.
Abdullah said bodies similar to a judicial appointments commission were
already a feature of jurisdictions such as Thailand, Hong Kong and India.
"A judicial commission will be a vital step in the right direction.
Implementing and operationalising it of course will be a challenge, and already
there have been divergent views expressed on the functioning and composition of
the commission," he said.
However, the prime minister said when personal and organisational interests
were set aside, he believed that Malaysia could arrive at a solution that is
best for the country.
"Once the commission is formed, it is up to the judges themselves to make
the judiciary an institution that we can all be proud of.
"A system is only as good as the people who operate within it, and I am
confident that our judges will rise to the occasion," he said.
Abdullah also said the LawAsia Conference was aptly themed "Challenging
Asia" as it was held at a time of great upheavel worldwide -- when the financial
crisis which began in the United States and spread to Europe, extended its reach
to this region.
He said although the financial crisis was still an early stage, the
debate had already begun on how countries should balance regulatory oversight
with market competitiveness in the banking, finance and investment fields.
"Beyond the context of the current financial crisis, there are still other
areas of importance to Asia, such as the performance of the real sectors of the
economy and institutional reform and renewal," he said.
The prime minister said the topics to be debated and discussed in the
three-day conference and the diversity of the topics highlighted the role of the
law in governing the underlying relationships, be they between business
partners, between governments and citizens or between nations.
He said law provided the framework to structure such relationships, to set
out duties and obligations and to help advance the aim of the relationship
without conflict.
"Nonetheless, if disputes do arise, then the law also serves to provide an
ordered mechanism for dispute resolution," he said.
Abdullah said he hoped that in due course, the legal services sector would
become another leading example when the business community required the best and
most up-to-date legal services.
"I am glad to note that the Malaysian Bar has proposed amendments to the
Legal Profession Act that will help to open up the sector to the international
participation," he said.
As the proposals are currently being studied, Abdullah said he hoped that a
workable solution would be finalised and implemented soon.
He said a more liberalised legal services sector was a prerequisite for
Malaysia's economic competitiveness.
"Malaysian lawyers can and must compete with the best in the world," he
said.
He said that in April this year, he had announced the establishment of an
independent judicial appointments commission and the work on the relevant
legislation was progressing well.
"The government aims to table the relevant legislation to establish the
commission by the end of the year, InsyaAllah (God Willing)," he said when
delivering his keynote address at the 21st LawAsia Conference at the Kuala
Lumpur Convention Centre here.
The three-day conference was organised jointly by the Malaysian Bar Council
and the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LawAsia).
Abdullah said the judicial appointments commission was not merely desirable
in Malaysia but a necessity.
"The present system of judicial appointments has given rise to questions on
the judiciary's integrity and credibility. Such a commission will provide a
structured, transparent and merit-based appointment process," he said.
Abdullah said bodies similar to a judicial appointments commission were
already a feature of jurisdictions such as Thailand, Hong Kong and India.
"A judicial commission will be a vital step in the right direction.
Implementing and operationalising it of course will be a challenge, and already
there have been divergent views expressed on the functioning and composition of
the commission," he said.
However, the prime minister said when personal and organisational interests
were set aside, he believed that Malaysia could arrive at a solution that is
best for the country.
"Once the commission is formed, it is up to the judges themselves to make
the judiciary an institution that we can all be proud of.
"A system is only as good as the people who operate within it, and I am
confident that our judges will rise to the occasion," he said.
Abdullah also said the LawAsia Conference was aptly themed "Challenging
Asia" as it was held at a time of great upheavel worldwide -- when the financial
crisis which began in the United States and spread to Europe, extended its reach
to this region.
He said although the financial crisis was still an early stage, the
debate had already begun on how countries should balance regulatory oversight
with market competitiveness in the banking, finance and investment fields.
"Beyond the context of the current financial crisis, there are still other
areas of importance to Asia, such as the performance of the real sectors of the
economy and institutional reform and renewal," he said.
The prime minister said the topics to be debated and discussed in the
three-day conference and the diversity of the topics highlighted the role of the
law in governing the underlying relationships, be they between business
partners, between governments and citizens or between nations.
He said law provided the framework to structure such relationships, to set
out duties and obligations and to help advance the aim of the relationship
without conflict.
"Nonetheless, if disputes do arise, then the law also serves to provide an
ordered mechanism for dispute resolution," he said.
Abdullah said he hoped that in due course, the legal services sector would
become another leading example when the business community required the best and
most up-to-date legal services.
"I am glad to note that the Malaysian Bar has proposed amendments to the
Legal Profession Act that will help to open up the sector to the international
participation," he said.
As the proposals are currently being studied, Abdullah said he hoped that a
workable solution would be finalised and implemented soon.
He said a more liberalised legal services sector was a prerequisite for
Malaysia's economic competitiveness.
"Malaysian lawyers can and must compete with the best in the world," he
said.
