It is a big sigh of relief all round that Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim has indeed retired as Chief Justice and his application for the customary six-month extension had been rejected.
But why should it take a “shadow” constitutional crisis to effect something which is right and proper for the country?
It bespeaks of a constitution and system of justice which have gone seriously awry and should be put right without any more delay.
The following quotes from the 14th Law Conference are more than sufficient to demand bold and far-reaching reforms to restore public confidence in the independence, integrity and quality of the judiciary, viz:
“It is time for the judiciary to regain the public’s confidence and bring back the glory years.” — Sultan Azlan Shah
“The golden era of the judiciary was before 1988.
“Then came the watershed in 1988 and the system deteriorated so rapidly, so much so that I gratefully retired in 1995.” — former Court of Appeal judge Datuk V.C.George.“What does the Constitution mean to me? It means nothing to me at the moment, because it can be changed at any time.” Raja Aziz Addruse, senior lawyer.
Although Fairuz is no more Chief Justice averting a constitutional crisis, the prolonged crisis of judiciary reaching its full second decade continues without any let up — reason why the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should end the charade of Haidar Panel into Lingam Tape scandal and establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to restore confidence in the independence, integrity and quality of judiciary to its golden era before 1988.