KUALA LUMPUR: De facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim may soon become a full-blown Law Minister with all the requisite authority and responsibility to help him effect legal reform.
“When we talk about reform, people think about the Judicial Appointments Commission only, but it is more than that -- there is a whole gamut of things that needs to be done as well.
“It is for this reason I have informed the Prime Minister, and Cabinet has agreed that there are reforms we need to take.
“In fact, my own position will be reviewed to Minister of Law to give me more authority but that will take time. You can’t have responsibility without authority,” he said Tuesday during a press conference after he officiated at Suhakam’s Human Rights Day public forum themed “Human Rights and Administration of Juvenile Justice” at a hotel here.
“When you want to effect change you need to coordinate and re-organise. For example, if you want magistrates to be re-trained today I can’t do much about it. I will have to go to the Judicial and Legal Commission.
“If I want to do anything involving children, I will have to talk to the Women and Family Development Minister.
“The difference between the past and now is that hopefully I will have more opportunity to bring change.”
Referring to a former President of the Court of Appeal who had referred to the minister with his portfolio in 2000 as being “in charge of table and chairs,” Zaid added:
“If I can’t do something I will say so. I hope with more refined authority, with an elevated position, a clearly defined portfolio and authority, perhaps I will help overcome some of the problems encountered.”
Source: The Star
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Monday September 15, 2008 MYT 4:11:43 PM
Zaid Ibrahim quits (updated)
By SHAILA KOSHY
LUMPUR: De facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister.
However, it is known yet whether Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has accepted Zaid's resignation.
According to sources, the senator tendered his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister's office just before 2pm on Monday.
Zaid could not be reached for confirmation.
The former Kota Baru MP was not fielded to stand in the March 8 general election.
Following the general election, however, Abdullah appointed him a Senator and a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
In announcing his new Cabinet on March 18, Abdullah said that Zaid would be responsible for legal matters and take on the role to reform the judiciary.
It was only last Tuesday that Zaid said he might soon become a full-blown Law Minister with the requisite authority and responsibility to help him effect legal reform.
“In fact, my own position will be reviewed to Minister of Law to give me more authority but that will take time. You can’t have responsibility without authority,” he had said then.
However on Sunday, Zaid broke from rank to say that the use of the Internal Security Act against civilians was wrong, adding that he was prepared to resign over the issue.
Monday, 15 September 200819:27
ZAID'S RESIGNATION REJECTED
Posted by kasee
(Business Times) MINISTER in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s resignation letter was not accepted by the prime minister.
t is learnt that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urged Zaid to stay on and continue with the judicial reforms during their 30-minute meeting at Seri Perdana today.
Sources said Zaid, known for his outspoken views, had expressed his concerns that he could be a liability to Abdullah.
The prime minister, however, advised him to take two weeks’ leave to re-consider his resignation. Zaid agreed.
The New Straits Times learnt that the former Kota Baru MP had decided to quit over the use of the Internal Security Act.
Abih tu cam no? Kalau orang yang "ahli" dalam bidangnya pun quit, kemana halatuju sistem perundangan dan kehakiman Malsyia ni??
I may have not been practising for so long but i think i have no regret leaving the field...i believe in the system once but the more i look at it..justice has been no more than manipulation of facts and evidence and frightening manipulation of the law. Look at the prosecution in some of the cases highlighted in the newpaper..the inappropriate gathering of evidence, the "missing" evidence, the missing link in evidence, the so called "expert" evidence...in years to come wonder how the next generation of lawyers will read and view the law reports and the whole system...and us.
or may be i am watching too much CSI or reading too much of raja petra's blog, or too much cooking show...
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