Press Release
Judge Hamid Sultan’s disclosures proves the BN regime’s long-term interference with the judiciary
15 February 2019
We refer to the shocking revelation by Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer confirming interference in judicial decisions.
The interference was in favour of the then BN government and its leaders, and to the detriment of opponents of the BN and the government. Amongst the cases affected were Karpal Singh’s sedition case and the Sodomy 2 case.
This disclosure cannot be taken lightly as it comes from a sitting judge of the court of appeal. It must be taken as strong evidence of serious misconduct and wrongdoing in the highest levels of our judiciary, at the behest of the BN regime.
Justice Hamid Sultan’s disclosure must therefore be acted upon.
As he has requested, a Royal Commission must be formed to look into judicial misconduct under the BN; this will afford immunity and protection to all potential witnesses including Hamid Sultan himself. The ambit of the Commission must be wide and not limited to any time period, but include the whole period of BN rule subject to availability of evidence.
In particular, the identity of the top judge referred to as ‘ARLC’ by Hamid Sultan must be established; and he must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if the RCI finds him guilty.
No stone must be left unturned, till all the truth is discovered.
It is clear that many other witnesses will come forward if an RCI is established.
Lawyers for Liberty have also collected a range of evidence of interference with subordinate court judges in politically sensitive matters. This includes an incident where a top judge interfered with a high profile ‘political’ prosecution at the Shah Alam Sessions Court during the BN rule. We believe this top judge may be the same ‘ARLC’ referred to by Justice Hamid Sultan. We are prepared to provide all information to an RCI.
The subversion and interference with the judiciary under the BN regime must be exposed to public scrutiny to ensure that there is never another attempt to make the judiciary corrupt or subservient to the government.
For long years, both Malaysians and the international community knew that the judiciary was not independent of the government, despite regular claims to the contrary by BN leaders. Now there is devastating proof supplied by Justice Hamid Sultan. All our worst suspicions are proven true.
For those from the former BN government and judiciary guilty of wrongdoing, there must be no escape or safe harbour. They must face justice.
Released by:
N Surendran
Advisor
Lawyers for Liberty