Kuala lumpur: The government will undertake a review of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Act 2009 due to public confusion surrounding the recent Chief Justice appointment process. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said announced the formation of a special committee dedicated to this review, which will include members from the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, as well as constitutional experts, legal practitioners, and academics.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina emphasized the necessity for improvements due to existing confusion and lack of clarity from the public’s perspective. She noted that while the JAC, established in 2009, has overseen the appointment of five Chief Justices without prior issues, recent developments have highlighted the need to investigate where the confusion originated. The review will seek to determine whether the processes or the wording of the Act are contributing to the lack of clarity.

Azalina also clarified that the JAC does not hold binding authority over judicial appointments. Instead, its main function is to screen, assess, and recommend candidates to the Prime Minister. She highlighted that appointments to the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court must adhere to Article 122B of the Federal Constitution.