MCA Youth Petaling Jaya expresses its full support for the Malaysian Bar Council’s Walk for Judicial Independence scheduled for 14 July 2025, and echoes the call made by several Members of Parliament, including YB Rafizi Ramli, for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the workings of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
As a practising lawyer, a member of the MCA Youth Central Committee, and the MCA Youth Chief for Petaling Jaya, I firmly believe that judicial independence must remain beyond doubt—both in substance and in perception. Recent developments surrounding the non-extension of tenure for the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal, along with concerns regarding the conduct of JAC meetings, have raised serious questions among legal professionals and the public alike.
The legal fraternity and the rakyat deserve clarity and assurance that the process of judicial appointments remains independent, transparent, and compliant with constitutional safeguards.
We commend the Bar Council for taking proactive steps to raise these concerns through a peaceful and principled platform. The Walk for Judicial Independence is not a protest against any institution, but a collective effort to preserve the integrity of our courts and ensure checks and balances remain intact.
MCA Youth is consistent in our stand—regardless of which coalition is in power, we will always defend the sanctity of judicial independence and the rule of law. The judiciary must be protected from any form of interference, perceived or otherwise. As such, the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the JAC is timely and necessary.
If the recent allegations of procedural irregularities is true, then it must be addressed through an independent and credible mechanism. An RCI would serve not only to investigate, but also to recommend long-overdue reforms to strengthen the judicial appointment process.
Furthermore, it must be stressed that this concern is not political. It is about defending the judiciary, one of the core institutions of democracy. MCA Youth is ready to work across the political divide when it comes to preserving public trust in our legal system.
Accordingly, MCA Youth reiterates its support for the following:
- Malaysian Bar Council’s Walk for Judicial Independence on 14 July 2025;
- The establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Judicial Appointments Commission;
- A renewed national commitment to uphold constitutional principles, separation of powers, and judicial impartiality.
We urge the Federal Government to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves, and to act swiftly to preserve public confidence in our legal and judicial institutions.
Andy Teoh Tuck Wah
MCA Youth Central Committee Member
MCA Youth Chief of Petaling Jaya
Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya
9 July 2025
-MCA Comm-
