Waiting for a judicial break

I know many of you are expecting a story from me on the embattled Malaysian judiciary. I can’t publish my story yet because I’m still waiting for a break. At this moment, except for innuendoes, we’ve no confirmation that Mr V K Lingam, the Malaysian lawyer in private practice, was brokering the appointment of judges with the Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim (then the Chief Judge of Malaya) as portrayed in the video clip recently released by former deputy premier Mr Anwar Ibrahim.

Broadside Malaysia takes a short break

Broadside Malaysia is taking a short break. There will not be any post for the next couple of days because I’ll be away on an assignment.

Meanwhile, happy reading!

Malaysia’s premier doesn’t understand cronyism

Malaysia’s prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says he doesn’t know the meaning of “cronyism“, according to a report in The Star newspaper today.

The newspaper quoted him as saying, “I do not understand the word” when Abdullah was asked about worries over cronyism in his 13-state Southeast Asian Federation. 

Malaysia’s king dragged into riot

 Malaysia’s king Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin has been dragged into last weekend rioting by 500 opposition party supporters that injured seven people when police broke up an illegal rally in his oil-rich northeastern Terengganu state.  

A great piece from Joceline Tan

Credit must be given when credit is due. And I must congratulate the Malaysian Star columnist Joceline Tan (picture) for a great piece, Brace for a swing in votes, in today’s paper. She has since polished up her English and changed her writing style; and this has made her story very readable. Keep it up, Joceline!

A reporter’s notebook

The past weeks have been particularly exciting and colourful in Malaysia. And today is another busy day. The sudden elevation of controversial lawyer Zaki Azmi (picture) to the Federal Court, the nation’s highest bench, has not only raised eyebrows but caused much unease among the legal fraternity and many Malaysians.

I leave you some of my notes:

Malaysia’s rulers vs Abdullah: Who’s the winner?

Now that it has become public, the question before 25 million Malaysians is: Who is likely to prevail in a confrontation between Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the 13-state Southeast Asian federation’s nine hereditary rulers over the constitutional role of the king. (See In Malaysia, the king asserts his power) 

King Mizan Zainal Abidin, 45, the 13^th Yang di Pertuan Agong or supreme ruler, says his role isn’t purely ceremonial. Abdullah, however, says the king has no right to meddle in his administration.

Last night Raja Nazrin Shah, the crown prince of northern Perak state, told his audience at a public lecture in Kuala Lumpur, the national capital, that Abdullah is wrong. 

Malaysia’s rulers openly confront their premier

A confrontation between Malaysia’s nine hereditary rulers and their Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now in the open: Raja Nazrin: Monarchy an integral part of nation

The Star today carries a Bernama report which says:

He (Raja Nazrin) said the Federal Constitution mandates the monarchy to be the guardian of the just rule of law, an impartial arbiter in the democratic process and an overseer of the pillars of state.  “Some believe that Rulers are supposed to do so in a purely ceremonial sense, but I would argue that this contradicts the true spirit, if not the letter, of the Federal Constitution,” he said. 

I reported that Malaysia is facing its worst constitutional crisis in my article, In Malaysia, the king asserts his power, on 28 August: 

Watch out for my next report.

So, the Malaysian media have been lying

 

A news item today from Bernama, the Malaysian state-owned news agency, has me wondering why the Malaysian media must be reminded to “disseminate the truth” and “play a responsible role in serving the community”.

Malaysia considers switch to Islamic law

from The Daily Telegraph

Prince Andrew looks on during a parade at the historic Merdeka Square in downtown Kuala Lumpur

Hardline Islamic law could be introduced across Malaysia under reforms proposed by the country’s chief justice.

As the nation in south-east Asia celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain yesterday, its government was preparing to discuss a plan that would revolutionise the legal system put in place by its former colonial administrators.