From Malaysiakini

By Rahmah Ghazali

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has announced the formation of a parliamentary caucus on the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament today, Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, said that the caucus will be established “notwithstanding the initiatives forwarded by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up a judicial commission”.

“We have yet to see the papers (on the judicial commission) and I think it is appropriate for the caucus to elaborate on this issue,” he said, adding that the caucus will hold its first meeting tomorrow.

DAP chairperson, Karpal Singh who also attended the press conference, said the caucus was necessary, particularly in the wake of alleged admissions of wrongdoing by newly-appointed Chief Justice Zaki Azmi.

Zaki recently recalled an incident in 1987 where he was blacklisted as a lawyer after he complained about two missing files belonging to his clients.

“It took me six months to be nice, to bribe each and every individual to get back into their good books before our files were attended to,” Zaki was quoted as saying.

However, Zaki has since denied he had bribed any court staff and that his comments were misinterpreted.

“This matter has to be taken further because the chief justice is talking about the integrity of the judiciary and he is an improper person to occupy the position as chief justice,” said Karpal.

All MPs invited

Anwar also said that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz, was notified of the caucus in his capacity as the minister in charge of Parliament before he went on leave.

“This is so that it has a bi-partisan focus. The meeting tomorrow will discuss specifically the issue of the judiciary,” said Anwar, adding that in order to be effective, the caucus must involve all parties, including BN parliamentarians.

“We will invite all MPs who are interested as that is a standard procedure and we will leave it up to them (on whether or not to join),” he added.

Asked who will be leading the newly set-up caucus, the PKR de facto leader said “it will be decided in the meeting tomorrow”.

“For instance, YB (Lim) Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) leads the ISA parliamentary caucus, and for other caucuses, we will decide who should lead,” he said.