OPPOSITION MPS today urged the Home Ministry to make public the outcome of its investigations into alleged judicial interference.

In a joint statement, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh and Penampang MP Darell Leiking called for a speedy and thorough probe into the allegations involving two senior lawyers.

The two said the findings must be made public.

They said allegations of interference in judicial and police matters must not be swept under the carpet, while the reputation of the legal profession must be protected.

“Malaysians deserve to know,” the statement read.

“An independent judiciary is central to our democracy and the functioning of our society.”

An independent judiciary, they added, protects the people from power abuse by the executive.

“The legal profession, on the other hand, is a noble and credible profession.”

They also recalled the allegations of former police chief Abdul Hamid Bador about interference in the workings of the force.

On June 15, Sepang police chief Wan Kamarul Wan Yusoff said police are investigating a senior lawyer accused of making remarks that brought the judiciary into disrepute.

Kamarul said a police report was lodged against the lawyer by a special officer of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun on June 7.

To date, police have interviewed seven people in connection with the case and recorded statements of three lawyers.

Kamarul said the case was classed as criminal defamation intentional insult to provoke breach of peace.

Both offences carry prison terms of up to two years, a fine or both upon conviction.

Police are also investigating the case for improper use of network facilities, which carries a RM50,000 fine or a maximum one-year prison term or both under the Communications and Multimedia Act.

According to the report, the lawyer in question allegedly sent several text messages to a foreign client, making reference to the chief justice.  – June 23, 2021.