Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has remained steadfast in advocating for the independence of the judiciary, even though he has once been a victim of a politically influenced judicial system, said Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, Political Secretary to the Finance Minister.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Muhammad Kamil highlighted in a post on X that certain individuals, masquerading as legal practitioners, have distorted Chief Justice (CJ) Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s remarks during the Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) 2025. He emphasised that her speech, which offered profound and constructive advice, has been well-received by the government.

He expressed that the deliberate misrepresentation undermines judicial independence and seeks to unfairly portray the MADANI Government in an unfavourable light compared to its predecessors. Muhammad Kamil described it as a reprehensible act to intentionally obscure the facts pertaining to the achievements of the MADANI Government’s efforts to preserve judicial independence.

He pointed out that critics appear to have neglected the notable accomplishment of Malaysia ascending 23 positions in the Rule of Law index under the current administration in 2023, as emphasised by the CJ in her speech. Responding to a joint statement by nine former Malaysian Bar presidents, Muhammad Kamil dismissed claims that the MADANI Government lags behind its predecessors in upholding judicial independence.

Muhammad Kamil also referenced the tumultuous periods under previous administrations, including constitutional crises and threats to judicial institutions. He questioned why critics disregard the challenges faced by the judiciary during the tumult of 2020, including the sudden resignation of the seventh prime minister, emergency declarations, and constitutional difficulties, and instead deem the current government inferior to the three administrations that emerged from the betrayal of the people’s mandate in 2018.

He further described the statement by the former Malaysian Bar presidents as a misleading tactic intended to create a distorted and negative perception of the MADANI Government, contrary to the present realities. He criticized them for failing to directly articulate the foundation of their allegations despite being familiar with the law.

In conclusion, Muhammad Kamil stressed that legal practitioners should uphold their duty to respect the law and refrain from making unfounded claims that tarnish the government’s reputation.