Govt contributes RM81,965.75 for Bar Council dinner - Zaid

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 - The government has contributed RM81,965.75 to the Bar Council to organise a dinner on April 17, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

He said the dinner was held to enlighten the Bar Council on the government's commitment on the call for judicial reform and reversing the negative perception of the judiciary since 1988.

"This is part of the government long-term plan to strengthen and restore the credibility of the judicial system," he said in a written reply to Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) at the Dewan Rakyat here Monday.

To other questions from Wee, Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) and Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Zaid said the conduct of High Court judges could not be discussed in parliament unless a notice on a specific motion was submitted.

"The notice on the specific motion must be submitted by at least one-fourth of members of parliament under Article 127 of the Federal Constitution," he said.

Wee, Karpal and Gobind wanted to know whether action would be taken against High Court judge Datuk Ian Chin and Court of Appeal judge Datuk Low Hop Bing.

On June 26, former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had asked the government to set up a tribunal to investigate Ian Chin for allegedly breaching the code of judicial ethics for having heard a case in which he (Ian Chin) had a personal interest.

Zaid said as the country practiced the separation of powers doctrine, the executive would not interfere in the judicial affairs.

"However, the government is aware of the importance of the case to the people. I will bring up the matter to the Chief Justice for his attention and action," he said.

-TMB