TOKYO: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has defended the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) for summoning judges as part of its ongoing effort to gather information on the state of the country.
The CEP was set up after the 14th General Election to advise the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government on appropriate measures to address problems in the economy and administration.
CEP chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin has reportedly been criticised by some in the legal fraternity for allegedly summoning Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin to a meeting, and asking them to resign.
“They had indicated to the two judges that it is good if they were to resign, otherwise the government may have to take action to remove them, because we believe that the extension of their office as senior judges was not right.
“The Bar Council and other leading lawyers feel that such an extension is not justified. It has never been done before. We have given judges up to the age of 65 to serve as judge, but extending them means denying other judges from chances of promotion,” Dr Mahathir said.
When asked, the prime minister said he believes the CEP has not overstepped its boundaries in this situation.
“They have a right to talk to a lot of people, who are today innocent because they haven’t been charged, but they can give information that will lead to our taking action against a lot of people.
“If you can’t talk to them, (or) you can’t suggest to them what is good for them, then the whole Eminent Persons group should be disbanded,” Dr Mahathir added.
