How does Tengku Maimun justify judicial independence using five dissents out of 19?

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Tengku Maimun Cites Dissenting Judgments as Evidence of Judicial Independence

Former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has refuted claims of interference in Federal Court decisions during her tenure, using her own record of dissenting judgments in constitutional cases as primary evidence. Over her six-year term, the Federal Court adjudicated 19 cases concerning constitutional law, and Tengku Maimun dissented in five of these, a statistic she presented to demonstrate that judges made decisions independently and without undue pressure.
Dissenting Judgments as a Measure of Independence

Tengku Maimun highlighted that her personal dissent in approximately 25% of constitutional cases heard by the Federal Court during her leadership signifies an environment where judicial officers could express differing opinions. This act of dissenting, she argued, inherently proves that judges were not swayed by external or internal influences, including from the Chief Justice herself. The implication is that if she had exerted pressure, her own judgments would more likely align with the majority.
Response to Allegations of Interference

Her statement was made in direct response to allegations of judicial interference, specifically concerning a Federal Court case with constitutional implications. These allegations were voiced by Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli, the recently retired Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, who claimed that a senior judge had exerted pressure on him regarding a draft judgment. While Abdul Rahman Sebli did not name the judge involved, his remarks prompted Tengku Maimun to present her statistical defence.
Statistical Breakdown of Constitutional Cases

During her six-year tenure as the country's top judge, the Federal Court handled a total of 19 cases that involved various aspects of constitutional law. Tengku Maimun's participation in five of these cases as a dissenting voice provides a quantifiable measure. She presented this figure not as a point of contention, but as factual evidence to underscore the autonomy exercised by the judiciary under her leadership.

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How does Tengku Maimun justify judicial independence using five dissents out of 19?

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