THE Malaysian judiciary today lodged a police report against allegations of judicial impropriety contained in an affidavit affirmed by Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer.

The report was lodged to preserve public confidence in the institution, said a statement by the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court this evening.

“As the action is pending in the courts, we do not intend to address the content of the allegations, save to say the allegations in the affidavit against the judiciary as an institution are sweeping, and consequently, may have the effect of tarnishing the image of the judiciary as a whole.

“This may also well result in public confidence in the institution being undermined. That, in turn, has an adverse effect on the proper functioning of the administration of justice.”

Therefore, it said, the judiciary lodged the report in respect of the said claims.

It said the judiciary “notes with concern the grave allegations” made by Hamid against unnamed judges and the institution.

“The judiciary is ever mindful of the importance of preserving public confidence in the institution. It is the continuing focus of the judiciary to safeguard its integrity and ensure the proper functioning of the administration of justice.

“In this regard, the Malaysian judiciary is presently implementing substantive improvements and reforms in the administration of justice, and will continue to do so. It is to be noted that the Institutional Reform Committee has met the judiciary and made recommendations that are currently being implemented.”

The statement, which is unsigned, said law enforcement agencies are looking into the allegations.

“The decision as to whether a commission of inquiry is necessary is one for the government to make.”

Sangeet Kaur Deo, the daughter of the late DAP stalwart Karpal Singh, filed an originating summons against the chief justice last month, saying he failed to act on alleged judicial interference in two instances: her father’s sedition appeal and the case of the unilateral conversion of M. Indira Gandhi’s children.

Chief Justice Richard Malanjum is not named in Sangeet’s suit, which refers only to the presiding chief justice.

Hamid, in his explosive 63-page affidavit in support of Sangeet’s summons, revealed judicial interference by top judges to ensure outcomes favourable to the government of the day.

Among the claims made are that senior members of the judiciary aided private parties in defrauding the government.

Hamid used the terms “judicial rowdies” and “hit squad” to describe the judges who ensured that court decisions favoured the government, and cited former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal at the Court of Appeal in his sodomy case.

“This is continuing unabated, even after the change of government, as there is sufficient material to purportedly say top judges are continuing to mislead the public by conniving not to expose judicial crimes,” he said in the affidavit. – February 15, 2019.