Bar files legal action against top justices

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar has filed a legal action at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Oct 10 against former chief justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.
"The legal action is pursuant to the resolution adopted by the Bar at its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on Aug 3," Bar president George Varughese said in a statement today.
Among others, the Bar seeks orders removing Md Raus and Zulkefli from their respective offices.
Another relief in the Bar's originating summons is a declaration that Arifin's advice, as the chief justice at the material time, to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on March 30 that Md Raus and Zulkefli be appointed as additional judges under Article 122(1A) of the Federal Constitution, is unconstitutional and void.
The Bar is also seeking a declaration that the appointment of Md Raus and Zulkefli as chief justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia and Court of Appeal president, respectively, is unconstitutional and void.
Case management has been fixed for Oct 26.
At its EGM, the Bar, among others, resolved that the appointment of Md Raus and Zulkefli purportedly as additional judges, and to continue to hold their positions in the judiciary beyond the age limit of 66 years and 6 months as prescribed in the Federal Constitution, is unconstitutional, null and void.