Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to meet Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) MPs next Monday, just a day after former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli holds a forum to address concerns over judicial appointments.
Malaysiakini has learned that Harapan MPs and senators have been invited to meet Anwar at his official residence in Putrajaya on 14 July at 4.30pm.
Coincidentally, earlier that day, the Malaysian Bar will gather at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya at 2pm before proceeding on a 2.6km march to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to hand over a memorandum containing four demands on safeguarding judicial independence.
Rafizi is scheduled to host a forum titled Integriti Kehakiman at 8.30pm on Sunday (13 July) at the PAUM Clubhouse in Kuala Lumpur, marking the first in a planned series of public discussions on the matter.
Earlier today, Rafizi sent letters to all MPs urging support for three key demands:
- The establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the allegations;
- For the parliamentary special select committee on human rights, elections, and institutional reforms to probe the allegations, including summoning Anwar to give a statement;
- Filling key judicial vacancies based on prior recommendations by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
In the same letter, Rafizi invited MPs to attend the 13 July forum.
“This forum aims to provide space for open and constructive discourse on this issue with legal and academic experts. Your (MPs’) attendance would be highly welcomed as a sign of Parliament’s commitment to the principles of integrity and justice,” he wrote.
When contacted, a Harapan MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had not yet decided whether to support Rafizi’s initiative.
“Since Anwar will meet Harapan MPs this coming Monday afternoon, we must listen to what he says first and consult colleagues in the party,” the MP said.
Former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retired on 2 July after not receiving a requested six-month extension.
Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim, who is serving out her own post-retirement six-month extension until November, is currently acting as chief justice.