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Thursday, November 1, 2007

Reform May Impact Investments

Houston Chronicle (30/10/2007): Instituting judicial reforms in Malaysia will not scare foreign investors away, the country's largest lawyers' group said Tuesday, rejecting a warning by the prime minister.

The Malaysian Bar Council, which represents 12,000 attorneys, claims the government is not doing enough to resolve a scandal sparked when a video clip was released purportedly showing a prominent lawyer brokering the appointment of top judges.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told a gathering of lawyers Monday that the council sent "negative vibes to domestic and foreign investors" when it held a rare public demonstration last month to highlight alleged judicial corruption.

About 1,000 lawyers marched through Malaysia's administrative capital Sept. 26, urging authorities to investigate the video clip and change how judges are appointed.

Council President Ambiga Sreenevasan said Tuesday Abdullah was entitled to his views, but she defended the council's moves as necessary because "we certainly felt that no one was listening."

"We think that problems with the judiciary are what would damage investments _ not freedom of expression," Ambiga told reporters.

Abdullah had urged lawyers not to be "irrationally negative or unduly pessimistic," adding that he wants to work with the council "sincerely and without preconditions, as well as without being suspicious of each other."

The government has set up an independent panel to probe the authenticity of the video, but says there is no need to overhaul the judiciary.

Currently, the prime minister chooses senior judges, although the king formally appoints them. The Bar Council wants an impartial commission to evaluate candidates.

Ambiga said council officials hope to accept Abdullah's invitation to meet soon to discuss their concerns, but added that the council "cannot be restrained" in expressing its views.

"We want a dialogue with him," Ambiga said. "We also form the voice of the public."

Badawi to lawyers: Don't scare off investors

Today Online (31/10/2007): Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has warned the country's lawyers that their demands for judicial reforms could clash with national interests and send foreign investors fleeing.

Speaking at a conference organised by the 12,000-member Bar Council on Monday, Mr Abdullah said lawyers who staged a rare public demonstration last month (picture) to highlight worries about alleged judicial corruption could create "the impression that a problem has reached an intractable impasse — even when in reality, it has not".

"Above and beyond this, it also sends negative vibes to domestic and foreign investors, undermining tireless efforts of industry and government in attracting investments," Mr Abdullah said.

He added that he wants to work with the Bar Council "sincerely and ... without being suspicious of each other".

Malaysia's Bar Council has stepped up its calls for reforms amid a scandal sparked last month by an opposition party that released a video clip in which a prominent lawyer is allegedly caught on camera brokering the appointment of top judges in 2002.

About 1,000 lawyers marched through Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, on Sept 26, urging the government to investigate the case and change how judges are appointed.

The government has set up an independent panel to probe the authenticity of the video, but says there is no need to overhaul the judiciary.

In response to Mr Abdullah's comments, Council president Ambiga Sree-nevasan defended the council's moves.

"We think that problems with the judiciary are what would damage investments, not freedom of expression," she said.— AP

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