Government moves to strengthen judiciary
KUALA LUMPUR: A Judicial Appointments Commission to help the Prime Minister choose judges is to be set up as part of reforms announced last night by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to renew the people’s trust in the judiciary.
Well, well, well. I think Badawi is sick of all the voices demanding that he step down - from Dr Mahathir to Khir Toyo - that he's decided to give people something else to talk about. He's trying to show us that yes, he does have a spine, and he's the one with the power of the highest office in the land, dammit! The man has been derided and humiliated - most recently courtesy of Dr M of course, who unabashedly said he "regretted" choosing Badawi as his successor - and is now trying to take the giant step of bettering the country's institutions while shining the spotlight on Dr M's misdeeds of the past.
The Star's various news stories on this issue were generally sunny in nature: Tun Salleh Abbas the first out of his chair to shake Badawi's hand following the latter's speech; Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan's "delight" over the proposed Commission; Wan Azizah welcoming the overdue announcement. Malaysiakini's headline highlighted the fact that there was no apology given to the six sacked judges. Badawi's view was that the injustice did not take place during his leadership and that the country now needed to look forward instead of backward, which meant, sorry, but no "sorry" from me. Susan Loone took the cynical view, practically equating the compensation Badawi proposed to give the six with bribery. I admit, I was initally optimistic reading the Star's reports, but caution is the best way forward. After all, we've heard sweet nothings out of Badawi's mouth before.
