YOURSAY ‘It is time the Bar Council exercises its right to reply.’

cjus Gerard Lourdesamy: What is the point of advising the brain-dead former chief justice (CJ) Abdul Hamid Mohamad, who is now consumed by hate for non-Muslims and non-Malays?

The man is beyond redemption. He ought to be investigated for sedition.

The best that the legal fraternity can do is to dissociate themselves from this pariah who is a disgrace both to the bench and the rule of law. For some odd reason, despite his constant condemnation of the Bar Council, the legal body is keeping quiet.

It is time that the Bar Council exercises its right to reply or the public will start believing the nonsense that is coming out of this man’s mouth.

Tok Karut: As the Attorney-General’s Chambers is so busy, the Bar should lobby for guidelines for retired judges, or draft one itself.

I think it is appropriate that a Bar EGM (emergency general meeting) takes place to discuss matters of this nature, should suddenly other ex-CJ or judges decide to go crazy because they do not know what to do upon retirement (with exception of those judges that former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad axed post-Mohamed Suffian Hashim and those judges who spoke about the ‘Mahathir project’ in Sabah) upon their retirement.

Hang Tuah PJ: Ex-CJs should not need a rule book. If they had attained the position through meritocracy, wisdom and integrity, they will automatically have schooled themselves to behave appropriately. What a sham.

Malaccan: Too often now former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan has to make statements that should really be the job of the PM and DPM, if not for the latter duo’s fear of making any statements.

Ambiga’s is the voice of reason and sobriety, more so when government leaders remain mum about such outrageous statements that come from Umno-linked and Taliban-like NGOs and individuals.

The PM and DPM’s ‘elegant absence’ has emboldened and encouraged the lunatic fringes to believe Abdul Hamid’s tripe. There has been no open rebuke or public censure of Abdul Hamid, much less a criminal probe or official investigation.

Abdul Hamid should provide the evidence of his claims for examination, or at least testimonies of ex-mufti, if they exist at all. He can’t, because like others in his group, he spins terrible and provocative lies and flees when challenged.

In the yesteryears, judges were disciplined and were men of character and integrity. That all ended in 1988.

It sank when Abdul Hamid and others like him were elevated to office. In reality, Abdul Hamid cannot but know the true situation in Penang is the opposite of what he claims.

Justice Pao: Abdul Hamid has always been a closet Umno Baru member and that is why Umno Baru made him the CJ.

Gen2indian: If not for his ‘ketuanan’ (supremacist) DNA, this clown would never be the CJ, a post that is crying out for respectability since the former lord president Salleh Abas was dismissed.

Ambiga, and hundreds like her, would know only too well how judges are selected in Bolehland.

Mr KJ John: Bar Council, please follow the example of your former president with whom more than a 1,000 marched, and please chastise the former CJ for his nonsensical statement.

Aries46: Ambiga is talking about the convention – the unwritten behaviour code for judges inside and outside the court in civilised nations where the rule of law is supreme.

But the question is, does it also apply to a compliant judiciary where many are perceived to be card-carrying members out to serve the interests of their political masters?

Ever since the dismissal of Salleh Abas, the judiciary has been  viewed by many as a compromised institution or a tool of the executive. For that matter, Abdul Hamid’s behaviour and conduct as an ex-CJ reflects on the judiciary and is a glaring example of what the judiciary ought not to be.

And Ambiga’s view that Abdul Hamid is ‘unlikely to be taken to task’ is in itself an indication of the state of affairs in the judiciary.

Nevertheless Abdul Hamid’s unfounded and nauseating extremist rants against the Pakatan Rakyat administration in Penang aside, what is even more distressing is the misfortune of those who may have been subject to his judgments possibly tainted by racial or religious bias.

Paul Warren: So what so you do with judges going senile in their old age and do not really know what it is they are talking about?

Like, if it can be shown that this judge had bigoted leanings all along, anyone who feels an injustice through the verdicts he had once given can now appeal such verdicts.

Justice Pao: Indeed, all those whose cases ere handled by this racist ex-judge should have their cases reopened or get the judgment overturned.

Hearty Malaysian: Prime Minister Najib Razak and his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, are both keeping quiet and turning a deaf ear to this outrageous racist’s remarks.

This only means quiet agreement with Abdul Hamid’s twisted views and unfounded claims of Islam being under threat.

The ex-CJ’s unbecoming behaviour raises a lot of suspicion on his motives and his integrity.

Having no class is the least one would describe his behaviour as an ex-CJ; having a neo-Nazi agenda is perhaps closer to the truth.


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