Democracy Takes Another Blow with Zaki Azmi’s Nomination as the CJ

I read Malaysiakini’s latest headlines with discomfort and disappointment. Here’s an extract of the report:-

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Rulers nominate Zaki as new CJ The decision was made today at the rulers' meeting in Kuala Terengganu today, sources told Malaysiakini/
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Tan Sri Zaki Azmi is the current Court of Appeal president. And according to the report, he will be promoted as the new CJ when Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad retires. Meaning he’ll be the leader of the judges in Malaysia.

The problem is that Tan Sri Zaki Azmi is very much connected to UMNO, and hence also to the government. If being UMNO’s lawyer is not enough, he is/was also chairman of its election committee, disciplinary board, and very much involved in several government-linked entities.

The 3 pillars of democracy – the executive(government), judiciary, and legislative branches - takes a hit again. Fundamentally, the 3 branches must be independent of each other in other to ensure that the democracy system can be practiced in a fair and just manner.

But with Zaki’s involvement in UMNO and his soon-to-be-made appointment as the CJ, there’s a clear sign of conflicting interest. There is simply no independence in appearance and practice.

The Malaysiakini report is particularly disturbing because apparently, Zaki Azmi was nominated by the Rulers’ Council itself. The overlapping interest of Zaki should be a strong enough basis to not make him the CJ. He’s connection with UMNO is explicit and clear. Which leads to the question – why did the Sultans and Agong still chose to nominate him?

I just hope it’s not a sign of desertion from our dear rulers; that the cries and pleads of the rakyat are turning on deaf ears.

PS: More on Zaki Azmi’s hanky-panky here.