Are judges being intimidated by public pressure?

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Judiciary Faces Pressure Aimed at Intimidation

The Chief Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, has indicated that criticism directed at the judiciary may constitute attempts to intimidate judges. She highlighted instances where the mobilization of large crowds was employed to exert pressure on judges during their decision-making processes. These actions are perceived as exceeding the bounds of legitimate critique and as actions that undermine the integrity of the judicial institution itself.
Criticism Linked to Ignorance and Potential Agendas

Tengku Maimun suggested that current criticisms of the judiciary stem from a lack of understanding of its functions, and in some cases, from a deliberate agenda to portray the institution as being prejudiced against Islam in Malaysia. She stated that comments and criticism should be grounded in factual evidence rather than falsehoods or a lack of knowledge. While acknowledging the importance of free speech in a democracy, she cautioned that this freedom does not extend to the propagation of hate speech, misinformation, or unsubstantiated propaganda.
Cases Used to Frame Judiciary Negatively

Specific constitutional cases, involving a man and a women's rights group challenging the Selangor state government on matters pertaining to Islamic law, were cited as examples of how certain parties attempted to frame the judiciary negatively. Tengku Maimun clarified that these cases primarily addressed the division of powers between the federal and state legislative assemblies, and were not fundamentally about diminishing Islam or Islamic law. She noted that some critics went further, questioning the religious backgrounds of the judges and suggesting ulterior motives behind their rulings.
Public Mobilisation as a Tactic

The Chief Justice pointed out that in certain situations, large crowds have been mobilised, with their presence being used as a tool to intimidate judges. This practice, she stated, blurs the line between acceptable criticism of judicial decisions and actions that actively harm the overall integrity of the judicial institution. She emphasised the need for the public to discern between reasoned critique and behaviour that seeks to influence judicial outcomes through pressure.

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Are judges being intimidated by public pressure?

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