Senior lawyer hails Pak Lah’s commitment to judicial independence

by FMT Reporters

Roger Tan praises the former prime minister for his role in passing the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009.

Senior lawyer Roger Tan said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s actions validated the Malaysian Bar’s efforts in ‘upholding justice without fear or favour’. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi left a lasting legacy in his commitment to judicial independence, says senior lawyer Roger Tan.

In a Facebook post tonight, Tan expressed his condolences to Abdullah’s family over his death.

“Pak Lah was indeed a true gentleman in politics, or rather, he was too good a gentleman to be in politics.

“Unlike many politicians, he was neither vindictive nor ruthless. In fact, on many occasions, he was magnanimous,” he said.

Tan, a former member of the Bar Council, praised Abdullah for having the political will to pass the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act 2009, demonstrating his commitment to judicial independence.

“He also supported the Malaysian Bar during the infamous VK Lingam video tape controversy by attending the 14th Malaysian Law Conference and hosting a sumptuous dinner for the delegates on Oct 29, 2007.

“This was done despite the then chief justice having directed the judiciary to not attend the conference, of which I was the organising chairman,” he said.

In September 2007, lawyers marched towards the Prime Minister’s Office in a “Walk for Justice” to protest allegations of corruption in the judiciary, following the release of the tape implicating then chief justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim in a judge-fixing scandal.

Following this, the government set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the matter and provide its recommendations.

This finally led to the setting up of the JAC to suggest to the prime minister candidates for appointments and elevation to the superior courts.

Tan said Abdullah’s actions validated the Bar’s efforts in “upholding justice without fear or favour”, noting also that no lawyers were arrested for participating in the “‘Walk for Justice”.

“Additionally, on April 17, 2008, he organised a reconciliation dinner for the senior judges who were dismissed during the 1988 judicial crisis,” he said.

Earlier this evening, Abdullah’s son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed Abdullah’s death in an Instagram post, saying he passed away at 7.10pm at the National Heart Institute.

Abdullah is survived by his wife Jeanne Abdullah and two children, Nori and Kamaluddin, from his first wife Endon Mahmood, who died of breast cancer in 2005.

He also had two stepchildren, Nadiah Kimie and Nadene Kimie, from Jeanne’s previous marriage.